Opposition Parties React to New Minimum Wage Announcement

The new minimum wage for 2025, announced by the Minister of Labor and Social Security, Vedat Işıkhan, is set at 22,104 TL with a 30% increase. The announcement has sparked immediate reactions from several political parties, including CHP, IYI Party, DEM Party, DEVA, Gelecek, Saadet, Yeniden Refah, TİP, Memleket, Zafer Party, and BTP.

The highly anticipated minimum wage for 2025 was revealed by Işıkhan, confirming a 30% hike. President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan also shared that the net minimum wage for 2025 would be 22,104 TL, wishing it would be beneficial for the country and its people.

Political leaders quickly voiced their criticism on social media.

CHP Leader Özgür Özel:
Özel stated that the newly determined minimum wage of 22,104 TL, which was decided in a hastily arranged meeting, was a clear sign of President Erdoğan’s detachment from the realities of the country. He accused the government of imposing a “starvation wage” on workers while claiming victories in Syria. He further emphasized that inflation had eroded the minimum wage by at least 7,000 TL since January, while the proposed 5,000 TL increase was insufficient.

DEVA Leader Ali Babacan:
Babacan criticized the government for increasing the budget revenue by 46% for 2025 while raising the minimum wage by only 30%. He argued that this increase was unfair, especially when considering the government’s failure to address economic issues for the working class.

Gelecek Leader Ahmet Davutoğlu:
Davutoğlu referred to the newly announced wage as “real oppression,” noting that the new minimum wage aligned with the hunger threshold set by TÜRK-İŞ and that the average wage in the country was at an unacceptable level for workers.

YRP Leader Fatih Erbakan:
Erbakan condemned the government’s handling of the minimum wage issue, blaming the ruling party for the worsening economic situation and its impact on the poor and middle class. He warned that those who continued to ignore the struggles of the people would face consequences at the ballot box.

Saadet Party’s Bülent Kaya:
Kaya reminded the government of President Erdoğan’s statement that the 2025 budget was for the people, questioning whether the new minimum wage truly reflected that sentiment.

Zafer Party Leader Ümit Özdağ:
Özdağ criticized the wage increase for not matching inflation and pointed out the stark contrast between the suffering of citizens, especially those affected by the February 6 earthquake, and the government’s focus on foreign projects, such as rebuilding infrastructure in Syria and providing housing for Syrian refugees.

In sum, the announcement of the 2025 minimum wage has led to widespread criticism from opposition parties, who argue that the increase is insufficient and fails to meet the needs of workers in the face of rising inflation and economic hardships.