Turkish labor leaders and politicians demand economic justice

Labor representatives and political figures in Turkey are calling for urgent reforms to address rising living costs and systemic inequalities in the workforce. During a protest march in Eskişehir, Arzu Çerkezoğlu, General President of the Confederation of Progressive Trade Unions of Turkey (DİSK), criticized current economic policies, stating that the struggle to make ends meet stems from unfair income distribution rather than a lack of national resources.

Çerkezoğlu highlighted that inflation and taxes have significantly eroded wages, citing DİSK-AR data which indicates that 2.254 trillion lira was taken from the incomes of workers and retirees due to inflation and tax deductions in the first nine months of 2026. She demanded justice in income, taxation, and national governance.

In the Grand National Assembly of Turkey, CHP Niğde Deputy Ömer Fethi Gürer echoed these concerns, focusing on the hardships faced by retirees and workers. Gürer criticized existing regulations, noting that minor discrepancies in retirement age requirements can delay retirement for years. He also called for solutions regarding subcontracted labor and the rights of those in internship and apprenticeship programs.