Turkey rejects July minimum-wage hike as inflation erodes real earnings

The Turkish government announced that the minimum wage will not receive an interim increase in July, keeping the January‑set level of 28,075 TL unchanged. Officials said no further adjustment is planned while inflation remains high, with May’s annual rate about 30% and forecasts above 32% by year‑end. The initial 27% raise in January has already been largely offset; real purchasing power of the wage fell by roughly 4,663 TL in the first five months of the year.

Labor activists from the Asgari Ücret İnisiyatifi staged a rally in Sultangazi, calling for the minimum wage and all wages to be updated four times a year to match real inflation. The group criticised the government’s policies as deepening poverty and described the current situation as "absolute bankruptcy" that cannot be covered by a single annual raise. They urged a wage level that ensures a decent standard of living for a worker’s family.