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Turkey to boost minimum wage about 26 percent: labour minister

The commission made up of the labor ministry, trade and employer unions decided on minimum wage to be applied in Turkey for 2019 as 2,020 Turkish liras ($380), Family, Labor and Social Services Minister Zehra Zümrüt Selçuk announced Tuesday.

Anadolu Agency ECONOMY
Published December 25,2018
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As of New Year's Day, Turkey is raising its minimum wage by over 26 percent to 2,020 Turkish liras a month ($381.3).

The new gross minimum wage, before deductions such as social security premiums and income taxes, is 2,558 liras ($482.9), Zehra Zümrüt Selçuk, Turkey's family, labour and social services minister, said on Tuesday.

She said the hike set by the minimum wage commission tops the country's inflation rate.

As of this November, annual inflation was 21.62 percent, according to the Turkish Statistical Institute.

The minimum wage of 2,020 liras is for single and childless persons, said Selçuk.

"The minimum wage for married people with three children is 2,155 Turkish liras ($406.9)," she added.

During 2018, the net minimum wage was 1,603 liras ($333.3). This year the average Turkish lira/U.S. dollar exchange rate was 4.81.