The Minimum Wage Determination Commission which met on 09/12/2014 under the chairmanship of Labor and Social Security Minister Faruk Celik, announced the minimum wage in 2015. Thus, in the wake of the meeting held between the Confederation of Turkish Trade Unions, the side representing the workers, and the Turkish Confederation of Employers’ Unions, the side that provides jobs; Minister Celick announced the decision taken by the Commission to determine the net minimum wage, which is set to 949 Turkish Liras for the first six months of 2015 and 1,000 TL for the six months that follow.
Whereas, the Turkish Statistics Institute (TurkStat) identified the hunger limit for a four-member family of 1427 TL, and the poverty line of 3500 TL. If we take into account that more than half of the working population in Turkey roughly getting an income equal to the minimum wage, millions of people in Turkey will remain under the starvation line in 2015. If the case were on this situation, the rulers would persevere to say lies that carry large numbers and vibrant colors, and will talk of stability and development in the Turkish economy scene in 2015. This shows the lies of the capitalist economic system, its hypocrisy and exploitation. And this situation shows the true face of the parties, the House of Representatives and the governments that are engaged in politics under capitalism. Thus the capitalist economic policy is based on the theory of “increasing the national income”. And the capitalists are working to encourage the community to increase production since they claim that the per capita will increase by a mere increase in the national income. Naturally, in the point of view of this capitalist economic policy that it is necessary to increase the production of goods and services in order to increase the national income. This means that, what the capitalists need is labor for lower wages. This national income in this colonial system was never distributed in accordance with the needs of the people. Accordingly, all what concerns this system is to determine the per capita income by determining the ratio resulting from dividing the wealth generated by 5%, which constitute the rich sector of the people, on the population. Even if this means that 95% of the people remained lacking access to food, clothing, housing, and other basic needs, and then it brags and charms the people about the size of the resulting ratios. How outrageous is this lie! The Turkish state is not sufficed by this alone, instead it imposes taxes on such low wages to secure budgetary resources. The state imposes on the employer 20.5% (246 TL) for social insurance, and 2% (24 TL) for unemployment insurance. As well as, it imposes on the worker 14% (168 TL) for social insurance, 1% (12 TL) for unemployment insurance, 0.75% (9 TL) on stamp tax, and 63 TL on income tax. Thus the state constitutes its budget from such taxes amounting to 571 Liras based on the minimum pay set for the worker.
O Muslims! For how long will you tolerate this imperialist greed that sucks your blood? When will you wake up to see the hypocrisy of the representatives who you granted them your voices and claim to represent you? And for how long will you believe the lies of those contenders who claim to be your representatives and defend your rights through trade unions? When will you realize the value of your wealth? And until when you will be deceived by the brag embellishment of your rulers who do not cease to entice capitalist companies to plunder your natural riches that Allah gave you?
The economic system of the Islamic state, O Muslims, makes the satisfaction of the basic needs of every individual citizen, Muslims and non-Muslims, as its basis. Islam does not take collection as a measure of the economy, like in capitalism, rather it is the distribution. Islam does not make what Allah has deposited on underneath the Earth’s surface of wealth, and what He spread on its surface of bounties; the property of individuals or companies, making it public property, and to be distributed among the people justly. If that is the case; then what are you waiting for? Come towards your material richness and your felicity in this world and to the unending bliss and absolute happiness that cannot be imagined in your Hereafter alike. Come to work in order to resume the Islamic way of life and establish the Khilafah Rashidah on the method of the Prophethood once again. For Allah’s Mercy and Blessings will not prevail on earth except through the Khilafah Rashidah on the method of the Prophethood that implements the provisions of the Almighty سبحانه وتعالى.
Media Office of Hizb ut Tahrir in Wilayah Turkey
Thursday, 10th Rabii’ I 1436 AH
01/01/2015 CE
No: TR–BA–2015–MB–TR–001