Türkiye Odalar ve Borsalar Birliği

The minimum wage, which concerns more than five million workers, will be re-determined with the new year. The Union of Chambers and Commodity Exchanges of Turkey (TOBB) and the Turkish Confederation of Employers' Associations (TİSK) emphasized that the continuation of the government support for minimizing the employment costs of the increase in employment rates after the 30% increase in the minimum wage of 2016 is important for sustainable employment. A monthly subsidy of 100 TL is being paid to employees to ensure that part of the employment costs incurred as a result of the minimum wage increase in 2016 is covered by the government. This support gave positive results in terms of increasing the competitive power of enterprises and encouraging registered employment in small and medium sized enterprises, in particular those employing heavily on minimum wage.

TOBB President Rifat Hisarcıklıoğlu stated that employers mobilized, employing 1.5 million people in the last year with the employment mobilization initiated under the leadership of President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and stated that, “Despite the uncertainties in the world and especially in our region, 1.5 million new job opportunities is an important success story. The support we have described as the most comprehensive employment incentives given to employers in Turkey has contributed positively to the indicators of unemployment. In this context, it is very important that the support of 100 liras given in the minimum wage is continued so that the employment increases can be continued.”

Commenting on the issue, TİSK Chairman Kudret Önen emphasized the importance of continuing the incentive program for enterprises by the state, which offset part of the employment costs of approximately 48% increase of the minimum wage of the last two years. Emphasizing that the lack of continuing government support can negatively affect businesses' competitiveness, Önen said, “In 2017, companies funded by the state with premiums to be paid by employers for newly hired employees have been able to recover on a path to sustainable growth. The long-term benefit of the largest employment support of our history, which contributed positively to the unemployment indicators, will be provided by sustaining the incentive. As Turkish employers, we believe and support every step taken to improve the competitive environment, employment and the country’s prosperity, the investment climate and ensure sustainable growth.”