Government officials and public employees in Turkey reach an agreement on wages, putting an end to the dispute.
Minister of Labor and Social Security, Vedat Isikhan, has announced a historic collective labor agreement for over 600,000 public sector workers in Turkey. The agreement, reached after nearly seven months of negotiations, was finalised at a meeting held at the Ministry of Labor and Social Security.
The new agreement includes significant wage increases and inflation safeguards for the public sector employees. Minister Isikhan thanked President Erdogan and senior government officials for their support in reaching this resolution.
The agreement sets out wage increases of 24% for the first half of 2025, followed by 11%, 10%, and 6% increases for each subsequent six-month period through the end of 2026. In addition, a base daily wage floor of ₺1,400 has been established for workers earning less, with those already earning above this threshold receiving a flat additional ₺40 per day separately from the percentage increases.
To account for inflation, the agreement includes a mechanism that ensures if the official inflation rate surpasses the agreed-upon wage hikes in any period, the difference will be added to the following raise. This provision offers some built-in protection against inflationary pressures for public workers.
Minister Isikhan reaffirmed the administration's commitment to supporting workers and safeguarding their welfare. He described the agreement as a product of sustained social dialogue, emphasizing the government's intention to maintain ongoing dialogue and support worker welfare.
The agreement ends a prolonged dispute that nearly led to a strike originally planned for August 1, 2025. The strike action was postponed by 60 days under a presidential decree issued by President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, allowing negotiations to progress toward this resolution. The deal was reached with key labor confederations TURK-IS and HAK-IS.
Additional benefits and provisions, including bonus payments, fixed-amount adjustments, and premiums tied to specific institutions, were also included in the finalized terms. Retroactive payments for wage differences and other benefits, covering the period between the contract's effective date and the signing, will be made promptly based on institutional budget capacity.
Workers earning below ₺42,000 ($1,033) in gross monthly wages will see their pay raised to that level. Those already earning ₺42,000 or more will receive a flat increase of ₺1,200.
The agreement is a significant step forward in safeguarding the welfare of public sector workers in Turkey and demonstrates the government's commitment to addressing their concerns. The deal also provides a much-needed resolution to the prolonged dispute, ensuring stability and continuity in public services.
- The Turkish government, led by President Erdogan, has shown their support for public sector employees by finalizing a historic collective labor agreement that includes wage increases and inflation safeguards.
- This agreement, achieved after seven months of negotiations, was agreed upon in Ankara, the capital of Turkey, at the Ministry of Labor and Social Security.
- The deal comprises a series of wage increases, starting with 24% for the first half of 2025, followed by smaller increments, and a minimum daily wage of ₺1,400 for underpaid workers.
- In response to inflationary pressures, the agreement contains a mechanism that adds the difference between the official inflation rate and the agreed-upon wage hikes to future raises, ensuring some protection against inflation.
- The conclusion of this agreement marks a significant move in the politics of Turkey, offering a resolution to a long-standing dispute, and highlighting the government's focus on industry, finance, business, and general-news related to workers' welfare.
