Türkiye’s main opposition party calls for rally against new minimum wage

Türkiye’s main opposition party, the Republican People’s Party (CHP), announced a rally in Ankara on Saturday to protest the recently set minimum wage for 2025.

The wage, determined at ₺22,104 ($626.7) following a 30% increase, was disclosed by Minister of Labor and Social Security Vedat Isikhan after the minimum wage determination commission’s meeting on Tuesday evening.

The figure met with criticism from the opposition, prompting the CHP to outline a comprehensive action plan during an extraordinary Central Executive Board (MYK) meeting.

Extraordinary meetings

The MYK, chaired by CHP Chairman Ozgur Ozel, convened at 11:00 a.m. (GMT+3) to strategize the party’s response. It was decided that the CHP’s parliamentary group would also hold a closed-door meeting at party headquarters later in the day.

As part of the plan, CHP lawmakers will forgo their participation in today’s parliamentary session; instead, Group Deputy Chair Murat Emir will address the general assembly at the Turkish Parliament on behalf of the party.

Following the closed session, lawmakers will be deployed to neighborhoods densely populated by minimum-wage workers to engage in fieldwork and distribute informational leaflets.

Rally in Ankara

CHP Deputy Chair Gamze Tascier announced the rally, scheduled for 1:00 p.m. on Saturday at Tandogan Square, Ankara. “We call on everyone who says, ‘We cannot live on this poverty wage,’ including unions, nongovernment organizations (NGO)s, and the public, to join the Citizens’ Solidarity event. Our Chairman, Ozgur Ozel, will also attend,” Tascier stated.

CHP officials have emphasized the importance of grassroots mobilization. Following the group meeting, party members will travel to teams of 10 to conduct outreach in various districts.

Meanwhile, Ozgur Ozel will meet with leaders of key labor unions, HAK-IS and TURK-IS, before joining the field efforts later in the day.