The Confederation of Public Workers’ Unions (KESK) Executive Committee released a written statement concerning the inflation data announced by Turkey’s Statistics Institute’s (TÜİK).

The statement pointed out that the cost of living increased in 2020, saying; "The inflation data announced by TÜİK today is a part of the bitter pills for the laborers and the dry bread budget. Millions of public workers, workers, retirees are again told fake figures that obscure the real inflation in the market and seek to subject these circles to hunger once again.”

'RATE OF MISERY'

The statement said that official inflation data released by TÜİK has no correspondence in the eyes of the public, especially public workers, and retirees.

“Those who ignore the increasing cost of living alongside the pandemic expect

more than three million public workers and 2 million public worker retirees, who were given a 3 percent salary increase for the first six months of 2021 in the previous 'Collective Agreement' with the decision of the Public Servants Arbitration Committee, to be content with the increase in misery rates for a year.

In the last year, natural gas was increased by 32 percent, electricity by 31 percent, legumes by 60 percent, cheese by 27 percent, eggs by 80 percent, sunflower oil by 50 percent, and bridge and road tolls by 26 percent three days ago. The increase in the salaries of public workers remained only at 13.11 percent with the last announced inflation difference.”

KESK listed what needs to be done as follows:

"The" collective agreement ", which has already lost its effect and imposes a % 3+ 3 month salary increase for 2021, should be renewed immediately.

* With the collective agreement to be made, our salaries should be increased at the rate of actual inflation without wasting any time, taking into account the decrease in our purchasing power and economic growth rates.

* The minimum wage should be excluded from tax. The first tax bracket should be reduced from 15 percent to 10 percent, and the deduction from wages up to the poverty line should be fixed in the first tax bracket.

* The taxes paid by workers for health, education, food, accommodation, clothing, electricity and heating expenses should be deducted from the income tax assessment.

* The electricity, natural gas, water and internet expenses of households with income below the poverty line should be covered by the Treasury until the pandemic threat is completely eliminated.

* VAT must be set to zero on basic consumption items, especially baby food, diapers and bread, dairy products, electricity, natural gas and water. "