HAK-İŞ President calls for minimum wage commission reform

Mahmut Arslan, President of the Confederation of Turkish Trade Unions (HAK-İŞ), has called for structural reforms to the Minimum Wage Determination Commission. Speaking at an occupational health and safety (OHS) training program in Ankara, Arslan argued that the state should maintain a regulatory role in the minimum wage process without being a direct party to the negotiations. He criticized the current commission structure as undemocratic and stated that HAK-İŞ has been fighting for 50 years to strengthen worker representation within the body.

Arslan also addressed critical deficiencies in the detection and prevention of occupational diseases in Turkey. He noted that many such diseases remain unidentified or are untreatable, emphasizing that current legislation alone is insufficient to solve the problem. He called for more comprehensive regulations and a collaborative approach between stakeholders to address these health risks and prevent loss of life in the workforce.