Section 1: Report
The recent increase in the minimum wage to 11,400 Turkish lira has not provided a solution for workers earning minimum wage, as they argue that the price increases on essential goods need to be stopped. A young worker at the IMES Industrial Site in Ümraniye and surrounding businesses states, “My parents also work, but even with my salary, it is not enough to cover the household expenses.”
Umut, an apprentice at the Kadosan Auto Industrial Site, who works as a panel beater, expresses that before increasing the minimum wage, the price increases on essential goods need to be halted. He says, “Even if you earn a higher salary, it doesn’t make a difference. The salary disappears within a week. They are increasing the minimum wage by almost 3,000 lira, but they continue to compensate for that increase with other price hikes.”
Umut also complains about the price increases in gasoline and cigarettes since the election. He states, “I live in Sultanbeyli. Normally, I used to drive my father’s 1995 model car to work. The car manages fine, good or bad. Because if you try to come here by bus in the morning, it takes about an hour and a half. If you have your own car, you can get here in half an hour. That’s why I used to go back and forth with my father’s car. But now, there have been constant price increases on gasoline. I am afraid to take the car out of the garage. I have to wake up an hour earlier and take the bus to get here. Otherwise, I can’t afford it.”
We also speak with another young worker at Kadosan, who is also an apprentice panel beater. Can is 17 years old. He says he doesn’t pay much attention to the increase in the minimum wage. The reason is that he gives almost all of his salary to his family and only keeps enough for his daily needs. He states, “The allowance I receive is enough for me. If you ask why, it’s not because the economy is good. I don’t have any expenses, so it is enough. I spend the entire day at work anyway. I bring a sandwich for breakfast from home, and the workplace covers lunch. Some days we work for more than 10 hours. When that happens, you go home and sleep. There is no time to spend money outside. Even if there is time, I don’t feel like spending it because I am tired.”
Although he can manage with his allowance, Can says that his family still faces financial difficulties, and that’s why the increase in the minimum wage is insufficient. He states, “I don’t have the responsibility of supporting my family at this age. That’s why the allowance I allocate for myself is enough. But if you ask whether it is enough for my family, it is not. If it were enough, they wouldn’t need my salary. They would manage with their own salaries. But even though my mother and father work, it is still not enough to cover the household expenses. It wasn’t enough when it was 8,500 lira, and now it’s 11,400 lira, and it’s still not enough.”
Hüseyin, a student at MESEM (Mechanical Engineering Education and Research Center) who works at Bostancı Industrial Site, shares a development that occurred at his workplace after the increase in the minimum wage. He explains, “There are three apprentices working at our place, along with nine other workers. Normally, as apprentices, we should receive one-third of the minimum wage. But because we work like regular workers, the boss has been paying us the minimum wage until now. Now, as soon as the minimum wage was announced, he called us and said that we will continue to receive 8,500 lira. He was already paying us more than we deserved. That’s why we shouldn’t even think about 11,400 lira. But then, he should treat us like apprentices when it comes to work. It would be unfair if he pays less when he treats us like regular workers.”
Hüseyin says that when the boss informed them about this decision, they had no choice but to accept it. He explains, “We agreed, of course. The rule written on paper is in favor of the employer. He uses the rule as it suits him. But for now, we agreed because the wage increase is recent. Let’s see what other employers have told their apprentices, whether they will pay them less than the minimum wage like our boss. I will also investigate places that pay apprentices the minimum wage. If I find any, I will leave. Why should I accept 3,000 lira less?”
Section 2: ESG Risks
1. Economic Risk: The increase in the minimum wage may not adequately address the rising prices of essential goods, leading to financial difficulties for workers.
2. Social Risk: Workers’ ability to meet their basic needs may be compromised due to the insufficient increase in the minimum wage.
3. Governance Risk: Employers may exploit the apprenticeship system by treating apprentices as regular workers while paying them less than the minimum wage.
4. Labor Risk: Price increases in gasoline and other essential goods may impact workers’ transportation costs and overall financial stability.
Section 3: Vulnerable Groups
1. Workers earning minimum wage: These workers may struggle to cover their household expenses due to the insufficient increase in the minimum wage.
2. Apprentices: The apprentices may face financial challenges if they are not paid the minimum wage as required by the law.
Section 4: Organizations
1. IMES Sanayi Sitesi and surrounding businesses: The young workers mentioned in the content are employed in these organizations.
2. Kadosan Oto Sanayi Sitesi: The panel beater apprentices mentioned in the content work in this organization.
3. Bostancı Sanayi: The apprentice mentioned in the content works in this organization.
Section 5: Regions
1. Ümraniye: The IMES Sanayi Sitesi mentioned in the content is located in this region.
2. Sultanbeyli: This is the region where one of the workers mentioned in the content resides.
Section 6: Sectors
1. Automotive sector: The organizations mentioned in the content operate in this sector.
Section 7: Keywords
1. Minimum wage
2. Price increases
3. Financial difficulties
4. Apprentices
5. Transportation costs
6. Exploitation
7. Economic risk
8. Social risk
9. Governance risk
10. Labor risk.
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