Citizens in Ankara React to Statement That There Will Be No Interim Increase in Minimum Wage

NEWS: ZEYNEP BOZUKLU/ CAMERA: BERKİN GÜLSOY

(ANKARA) – Citizens in Ankara reacted to the statement of the Minister of Labor and Social Security Vedat Işıkhan that there will be no interim increase in the minimum wage. Speaking to ANKA News Agency on the subject, a citizen said, “I have no hope. Currently, no one can survive on the minimum wage. What if there is a raise, what if it is not? The man is already hungry. He continues to starve.”

Minister of Labor and Social Security Vedat Işıkhan responded to a question from journalists about the interim increase in the Parliament by saying, “There will be no increase in the minimum wage.” Citizens reacted to this situation. A shopkeeper working for minimum wage spoke as follows:

“These people deserve it. They deserve it because people are happy with their lives. No one speaks out. The country has fallen into the same situation as Pakistan. The rich are always rich, the poor are always poor. I am already experiencing difficulties, but the future generations after me are important. I am the most important.” “I can live for another 10 years, but it’s a shame for the next generations. This country has established such an order, let these people continue with that order.”

“May God help people”

Another shopkeeper said, “Who can get by with 17 thousand liras? The rent for a house is now 15 thousand liras. May God help people.”

“You can’t get by on minimum wage”

Mehmet Taş said, “The state needs to find a solution to this. You cannot live on minimum wage. My child works 12 hours in total, from 06.30 in the morning to 6 in the evening. But he receives minimum wage.”

“Those who did this should be ashamed. There is zero in the palm of your hand”

Another shopkeeper said, “We are victims. It is not enough, the money we receive is clear. Rents are skyrocketing. Those who do this should be ashamed. There is zero in hand.”

Ali Barman said, “As long as the prices of diesel, water and supermarkets continue to increase, even if they give me 50 thousand liras, that money is worthless.”

One young man said:

“People have not been able to make a decent living for many years. We are used to this situation now. I have no hope. Nobody can get by on the minimum wage right now. What if there is a raise or not? The man is already hungry. He continues to starve.”