CHP MP Gürer: Minimum Wage Should Be Increased in July

(ANKARA)- CHP Niğde Deputy Ömer Fethi Gürer said, “The minimum wage has become the average wage. In this case, those who are trying to get by on the minimum wage are condemned to live on an income below the poverty line due to inflation. The minimum wage must definitely be increased in July,” regarding Minister of Labor and Social Security Vedat Işıkhan’s statement that there will be no increase in the minimum wage.

Ömer Fethi Gürer evaluated Minister Vedat Işıkhan’s statement that “There will be no increase in the minimum wage.” Gürer emphasized that the minimum wage must definitely be increased and made the following statement:

“The Minister says that there will be no increase in the minimum wage. The minimum wage earner who is below the hunger threshold is victimized and is experiencing problems. Both the retired and the minimum wage earner have become poor in the conditions they are in. The AKP eliminated the system that would provide wage increases in workplaces through collective labor agreements. Because it blocked the way for unions to organize. It blocked the way for their struggle to gain rights. As a result, the minimum wage became the average wage. In this case, those who generally try to get by on the minimum wage were condemned to live on an income below the hunger threshold in the face of inflation.

The problem is deepening. Poverty is increasing. The minimum wage must definitely be increased in July. In addition, the minimum wage must be re-evaluated and updated every three months against inflation. Because the minimum wage has become the general wage and thousands of people are forced to live on this wage. There is a political power that ignores the situation of retirees and minimum wage earners who have incomes below the poverty line, the hunger line. Every segment of the country is experiencing problems with the increasing impoverishment this creates. Because when the purchasing power of the minimum wage earner decreases, if they do not go and shop from the tradesmen, the tradesmen also have trouble. Therefore, the minimum wage must definitely be increased. The lowest salary of retirees should also be at the minimum wage level.