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Workers, Civil Servants, and Pensioners Lose ₺134 Billion in Q1

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A recent report by DİSK-AR (The Research Center of the Confederation of Progressive Trade Unions of Turkey) reveals that labor income losses in Turkey reached a staggering ₺134.2 billion during the first three months of 2025, driven by high inflation and regressive taxation. According to the “Wage Loss Monitoring Report,” the purchasing power of workers, civil servants, and retirees has been eroded sharply under current wage and price policies.

Real Wages Decline as Prices Soar

The study found that:

  • Workers lost a total of ₺75.6 billion

  • Civil servants lost over ₺6,215 per person

  • Pensioners saw a decline of ₺1,456 in real terms

DİSK-AR warned:

“Wages are fixed, but prices are free. Labor income is being systematically crushed under inflation.”

Minimum Wage Purchasing Power Erodes by ₺2,224

Although the gross minimum wage was set at ₺26,006, social security deductions bring the net wage down to ₺22,105. However, even this is not immune to inflation. By March 2025, the real value of this wage had declined by ₺2,224.

Workers earning 1.5 to 3 times the minimum wage lost between ₺3,159 and ₺5,758, highlighting how progressive tax brackets and rising prices disproportionately affect mid-level earners.

Civil Servants See Over ₺6,000 in Real Losses

The report shows that public sector workers were not spared:

  • A modest 11.54% wage increase in January failed to offset the 15.75% inflation in the latter half of 2024 and the 10.06% CPI rise in Q1 2025

  • As a result, the lowest civil servant salary, previously ₺43,726, effectively dropped to ₺37,511, marking a ₺6,215 real loss

Pensioners Face Steepest Decline in Living Standards

The report describes pensioners as the most vulnerable group:

  • As of January 2025, the minimum pension was raised to ₺14,469

  • But by March, its real purchasing power fell to ₺13,000, losing ₺1,456 due to inflation

DİSK-AR emphasized that retirees lack any tax exemptions or adjustment mechanisms, leaving them fully exposed to economic shocks.

Call for Reform: “Wages Frozen, Prices Free”

The report concludes with a stark warning:

“In a system where wages are fixed and prices are liberal, workers' incomes are systematically eroded by inflation.”

DİSK-AR is calling for a comprehensive overhaul of Turkey’s wage policy and taxation system, aimed at ensuring income justice, protecting purchasing power, and easing the burden on low and middle-income earners.

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