Statement from Cevdet Yılmaz on the minimum wage: Will the raise be above inflation?

Turkish Deputy President Cevdet Yılmaz said the government will balance worker welfare against business sustainability in setting the new minimum wage, stopping short of committing to an inflation-beating increase. He said the administration aims for pension increases above inflation, without specifying a figure. Yılmaz also said roughly 161 billion lira has been paid to fund investors, with a final interim payment expected within one to two weeks. The remarks matter because the minimum wage sets the floor for wage bargaining and feeds into year-end inflation expectations. Investors will watch the announced wage and pension figures for signals on inflation and budget spending.