TRNC Trade Unions Stand Against the New Minimum Wage

The Federation of Turkish Cypriot Trade Unions (TÜRK-SEN) has expressed its opposition to the minimum wage established at the committee meeting on January 17.

TÜRK-SEN President Arslan Bıçaklı stated that the union formally objects to the decision, arguing that “the new minimum wage, approved by government and employer representatives, falls below the hunger and poverty lines."

• “While politicians earning 250,000 Turkish lira increased their salaries by 11.12%, equivalent to four months' worth of the minimum cost of living, they failed to extend the same increase to minimum wageworkers earning just 35,000 lira. They have condemned these workers and their families to hunger,” Bıçaklı said.

The union leader demanded that the minimum wage be recalculated to reflect current living conditions.

To summarize, the Minimum Wage Determination Committee finalized the first minimum wage for 2025 during its January 17 meeting. It was set at 37,818 Turkish lira per month (43,469 lira before taxes).

The decision was passed by a majority vote, with workers' representatives voting against it.

A 10-day period has been allocated for filing objections to the new minimum wage in Northern Cyprus. This period is set to expire early next week.