Turkey's CHP pushes for 45,800 TL minimum wage

CHP Group Deputy Chairman Gökhan Günaydın presented a draft law to the Turkish Parliament calling for the minimum wage to be increased to 45,800 Turkish lira. He argued that inflation running above 33 % has eroded purchasing power, noting that the current 28,000 TL wage set in January buys roughly the same as 24‑25 TL did a year earlier. Günaydın also linked the proposal to the nation’s poverty and hunger thresholds – 35,000 TL and 115,000 TL respectively – and said the bill should raise the lowest pension to the same level.

He highlighted that 7‑8 million workers rely on the minimum wage, alongside 16 million retirees and over 11 million unemployed, estimating that around 30 million people live below the hunger line. During the press conference he also criticised the ruling party’s handling of public security and media freedoms, referencing comments about the NATO summit.