Crucial Tripartite Advisory Board Meeting Held to Discuss Fate of Minimum Wage Commission

ANKARA – The Ministry of Labour and Social Security convened the Tripartite Advisory Board, consisting of representatives from labour, employers, and the government, to evaluate the functioning of the Minimum Wage Determination Commission. This urgent meeting was called following the announced boycott by Turkey's largest labour confederations, Türk-İş and Hak-İş, against the Commission's perceived unfair structure.

The meeting, held today after an earlier session on October 9, focused directly on the minimum wage ahead of the December 2026 negotiations. The primary agenda was to discuss the composition and working methods of the Commission, aiming to find ways to ensure the participation of the labour side.

The Boycott: A Response to Structural Unfairness

The need for this extraordinary meeting stems from the strong boycott declarations by Türk-İş Chairman Ergün Atalay (December 25, 2024) and Hak-İş Chairman Mahmut Arslan (October 27, 2025). Both leaders criticized the current system, where the vote of the Commission Chairman (appointed by the Ministry) acts as the tie-breaker, structurally disadvantaging the workers.

Atalay had stated: "We remained in an unfair commission for 50 years. Unless a fair regulation is made from now on, Türk-İş will not participate in the Minimum Wage Determination Commission again." Arslan confirmed a similar decision, emphasizing the need for structural change.

The outcome of this Tripartite Advisory Board meeting will determine whether the labour representatives will return to the negotiating table for the 2026 minimum wage, which currently stands at a Gross rate of 26,005.50 TL (Net: 22,104.67 TL).