TRNC Unions Urge Increase in Minimum Wage Starting September 1

The Free Workers' Unions Federation (Hür-İş) has called on the Minimum Wage Determination Commission and the Ministry of Labor and Social Security to convene and set a new minimum wage for Northern Cyprus, effective from September 1.

According to Ahmet Serdaroğlu, the union leader, they have requested that the authorities establish a new minimum wage that would come into effect on September 1.

“No measures have been taken to ease the market or counteract the high cost of living and inflation that have occurred since the last minimum wage adjustment,” the union stated.

Serdaroğlu emphasized that the Minimum Wage Determination Commission should meet as soon as possible "to improve the welfare of all wage earners, particularly those on minimum wage, and to reduce the high taxes deducted from their salaries.”

“In accordance with the unanimous decision of the Hür-İş Federation’s Board of Directors, we have urged the Ministry of Labor to set a new minimum wage that will be effective from September 1,” the statement continued.

To recap, on May 21, the Commission decided to raise the net minimum wage in Northern Cyprus by 23.5%, bringing it to 29,640 Turkish lira. This agreement was reached between the government and workers' representatives, while employers opposed the increase. A 10-day period was allowed for objections. After reviewing the objections, the minimum wage was reduced by 120 lira. Currently, the minimum wage in the TRNC stands at 29,520 Turkish lira.

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