Higher minimum salaries set

What is the change? The Turkish Ministry of Labour and Social Security has announced a nearly 30 percent increase to the country’s minimum wage.

What does the change mean? The minimum wage will be set at 1,647 Turkish liras (about US$545) per month, significantly higher than last year’s minimum of 1,273.50 liras per month. Salaries for foreign nationals must not only meet the minimum, but also be on par with salaries received by equivalent Turkish workers. Salaries for workers classified as “experts” or “specialists,” for example, must be at least three times the minimum, or 4,941 Turkish liras per month.

• Implementation time frame: Immediate and ongoing.
• Visas/permits affected: Work permits.  
• Who is affected: Employers and foreign nationals working in Turkey.
• Business impact: Business costs will increase for companies employing workers at the minimum salary levels for their job categories.

Background: Minimum salary levels vary depending on a worker’s job category:

Salary minimums are subject to change due to inflation.

BAL Analysis: Employers should make sure they are in compliance with all salary requirements. Contact your BAL attorney with any questions about salary minimums or how to categorize foreign workers.

This alert has been provided by the BAL Global Practice group and our network provider located in Turkey. For additional information, please contact your BAL attorney.

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