Turkish Labor Minister Outlines 2027 Budget and Minimum Wage Timeline

Labor and Social Security Minister Vedat Işıkhan presented the 2027 budgets of his ministry and affiliated institutions to the Turkish Grand National Assembly Plan and Budget Commission. He noted that the AK Party administration has completed 24 years in power.

Işıkhan emphasized that Türkiye has undergone major reforms and radical transformations in all areas under President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan's leadership. He highlighted that significant steps taken in working life, employment, and social security form an important part of this transformation.

“Social dialogue is an indispensable element of our working life.”

The minister stated that the world is experiencing a radical change ranging from digitalization and artificial intelligence to green transformation, new working models, and labor mobility. He described demographic transformation as one of the most important dimensions of this process.

Işıkhan said the ministry's goal is to turn this transformation into an opportunity for citizens, increase quality and secure employment, ensure a fair balance between labor and production, strengthen social protection, and bring workers together with future skills.

He recalled that the 2025-2028 National Employment Strategy entered into force on February 1, 2025. The ministry also aims to publish the National Just Transition Strategy by the end of the year to comprehensively address the effects of green and digital transformation on working life.

Işıkhan reported that unionization rates among workers rose from 9.2 percent in 2013 to 13.8 percent in 2026, while among civil servants they increased from 47.94 percent in 2002 to 77.96 percent in 2026. He stated that efforts are being made to protect workers' incomes while maintaining balance in the labor market.

Finally, the minister announced that the net minimum wage for 2026 will be determined, without specifying the amount or date in the provided text.