Turkey government evaluates sectoral, regional minimum wage model

Turkey’s economy ministry and the Ministry of Labour and Social Security are preparing a new minimum‑wage system that would vary by industry cost structures and by regional living expenses. The draft proposes a “sectoral and regional” model intended to preserve workers’ purchasing power, boost employment and reduce cost pressure on firms. The government says the plan will be shaped after consultations with trade‑union and employer representatives, and no final legislation has been adopted yet.

The study also benchmarks a range of foreign practices – from the United States and Canada, where states or provinces set differing wages, to Japan’s prefecture‑based rates and various European sector‑based collective agreements. Officials stress that the aim is to balance competitiveness with social protection, and the outcome will depend on the Ministry’s final assessment after the ongoing analysis.