The unemployment and employment report published by the Research Center of the Confederation of Progressive Trade Unions of Turkey (DİSK-AR) reveals that the broadly defined number of unemployed people has reached nearly 13 million. The report highlights this as the highest level recorded since 2014: “The broadly defined unemployment rate, which now includes 13 million people, has risen to 32.2 percent, the highest level since January 2014. The rate of 32.2 percent for April 2025 marks a 136-month record.”

As economic stagnation deepens unemployment, discussions have begun over whether a mid-year raise to the minimum wage will be introduced in July. Business circles have already voiced opposition, arguing that an interim raise would severely impact them.

Mehmet Bozgeyik, Co-Spokesperson of the Labor Commission of the Peoples’ Equality and Democracy Party (DEM Party), criticized the government’s economic policies and addressed both the growing unemployment crisis and the ongoing debate around a potential raise in the minimum wage. He stated that unemployment has reached terrifying levels and emphasized that the minimum wage should be increased to 40,000 TL, equal to half of the official poverty line.

A convergence of deepening crises

Mehmet Bozgeyik stated that the neoliberal policies pursued by the government have dragged Turkey into a deep economic crisis, while also triggering multiple, overlapping crises across the country and said, “The externally dependent economic policies and neoliberal strategies followed by the government are making the economic crisis increasingly felt with each passing day. In fact, the current economic crisis is not only specific to Turkey; it is part of a broader crisis created by capitalist modernity on a global scale. Naturally, as these economic crises intensify, multiple crises also emerge. Social crises and political crises begin to trigger one another. Therefore, even though one of the main reasons for the economic crisis in Turkey is the government’s dependence on external actors and neoliberal economic policies, the political and social crises within the country are also major factors that are driving this economic collapse further. And as these crises grow, their destructive impact is felt more deeply across society. With this worsening economic crisis, we are witnessing an extraordinary surge in poverty, unemployment, high inflation, the devaluation of the Turkish lira, and a sharp rise in regional unemployment rates, as you already know.”

Statistics reveal the severity of the crisis

Bozgeyik also pointed to high inflation as one of the clearest indicators of the economic crisis and emphasized that poverty-related data further reveals the gravity of the situation. He said, “When we look at the parameters of this economic crisis, the most defining factor is high inflation, especially the soaring food prices, continuous increases in basic consumption items such as energy and natural gas, and the sharp rise in housing and rental costs. These conditions have created an unbearable cost of living and deep poverty, particularly for workers and retirees. Even if we look at the figures published by the Turkish Statistical Institute (TÜİK), despite them being widely discredited, they still reflect the severe social and economic consequences of the crisis in the country. The 2024 poverty and living conditions statistics lay bare the magnitude of this crisis.

Those same statistics show that 29 out of every 100 people in Turkey rely on social assistance. One of the core policies of the Justice and Development Party (AKP) government over the past 23 years has been to use social aid as a tool to demand obedience and loyalty. In addition, 86 out of every 100 people live under conditions far removed from a life of dignity. What we mean by a dignified life is the ability of a family, especially a family of four, to survive on an income above the poverty threshold. If two people are working in a household, the total household income should at least exceed the poverty line. But that is not the case.

For instance, when we look at the hunger and poverty indexes published by the Confederation of Public Employees’ Trade Unions (KESK), the poverty threshold in Turkey has surpassed 80,000 TL. The minimum wage, unfortunately, now falls even below the hunger threshold. Today, the hunger threshold in Turkey has reached 25,000 TL. Naturally, this means that around 13 to 14 million people in the country are living in poverty. Moreover, Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) data show that in Turkey, one out of every five children goes to school without a packed meal, meaning they are left hungry at school. Malnutrition among these children is causing both physical and cognitive problems.”

Minimum wage should be updated every three months

As discussions begin over whether the minimum wage will be raised in July, the government has yet to signal any intention to support such a move. Meanwhile, business circles have already begun to claim that an interim raise would be damaging to their interests. Mehmet Bozgeyik addressed the issue, stating that the minimum wage should indeed be updated in July. He said: “We are seeing that not only workers and laborers but also retirees, women, young people, tradespeople, farmers, and producers are suffering greatly in this economic crisis. The AKP tries to portray this situation as fate, but as DEM Party, we emphasize that this is the result of the government’s political choices. If we look at the policies followed by the AKP, it is clear that they continuously prioritize capital. Labor has become increasingly devalued. Today, what was once considered an exceptional income, the minimum wage, has now unfortunately become the average wage in Turkey. For this reason, the minimum wage must be updated in July, as should pension payments. Moreover, the flat-rate increase that was given to public servants but denied to retired civil servants must also be applied to them.

We already expressed this in January as well: when determining the minimum wage, scientific data from within Turkey must be taken into account, and the wage must be at least half the poverty threshold. In other words, the minimum wage for a single worker should amount to at least half the poverty line. If, by the end of June, the poverty threshold is 80,000 TL, then the minimum wage should be raised to 40,000 TL in July, half of that amount. It should also be updated every three months. Turkey is not an economy like Europe with zero or one percent inflation. Inflation rises every month. Naturally, wages must also be adjusted quarterly to keep up with inflation. We believe this is a necessity, especially for minimum wage earners and retirees.”

Unemployment continues to rise

Bozgeyik emphasized that the deepening economic stagnation has caused unemployment to rise sharply and warned that both the minimum wage and pension payments must be increased without delay and said, “Broadly defined unemployment in Turkey has reached a terrifying level. This category includes not only those actively seeking work but also young people and women who have given up looking for a job. Many have applied to the Turkish Employment Agency (İŞKUR) numerous times but received no response. They cannot find employment in either the private or public sectors. In the public sector, employment opportunities have been restricted and no new job fields are being created. As a result, mass unemployment has emerged. Around 500,000 to 600,000 teacher candidates remain unemployed because appointments are not being made and there are not enough positions available. Many of them are forced to work in unrelated jobs.

In the private sector, the economic crisis has had a direct impact, especially on small employers. The constant rise in foreign exchange rates, the depreciation of the Turkish lira, and repeated increases in electricity and natural gas prices have significantly raised production costs. Employers then pass these costs onto workers. We are witnessing a sharp increase in dismissals under the pretext of downsizing. In Antep, for example, the textile sector has seen mass layoffs, particularly among non-unionized and unorganized workers. Layoffs are also widespread in the surrounding region and in major western metropolitan areas. As the economic crisis deepens and inflation continues to rise, we are entering a period in which mass layoffs will increase further, or workers will be forced to accept lower wages. For this reason, both the minimum wage and pension payments must be updated by the end of June. Pension payments should be increased to at least the level of the minimum wage.”