Turkey’s push for regional minimum wage sparks union opposition

Turkey is debating a shift from a single nationwide minimum wage to a regional system. Union leaders warn the change would let employers relocate company headquarters to low‑wage provinces, forcing all workers – even those in Istanbul – to be paid the lowest regional rate. Mahmut Arslan of Hak‑İş warned that “the real intention is to lower every worker’s pay as much as possible.”

Experts note that Turkey has had a uniform minimum wage since 1989, currently set at 28,075.50 TL, which covers only about 78 % of a family’s basic food costs. İsa Karakaş, a former SGK specialist, described the regional‑wage idea as a “sweet poison,” recalling earlier attempts between 1951 and 1967 that led to mass strikes and were eventually abandoned. Social security analyst Özgür Erdursun argued that the focus should be on raising the overall minimum wage and reducing the share of workers earning it, rather than on regional adjustments. The debate highlights concerns over wage‑level equity, living‑cost pressures, and the potential impact on labor markets across Turkey.