Turkish hunger threshold surpasses minimum wage in first month of hike

Duvar English

Turkey's poverty threshold increased to 37,974 liras in July, more than three times the minimum wage (11,402 liras), data from the Confederation of Turkish Trade Unions (Türk-İş) showed.

The poverty threshold indicates the money needed for a family of four to feed itself sufficiently and healthily, and it also covers the expenditures on basic necessities such as clothing, rent, electricity, water, transportation, education and health.

The hunger threshold, which indicates the minimum amount of money needed to save a four-member family from starvation a month, became 11,658 liras in July. Accordingly, the hunger threshold surpassed the minimum wage in the first month of its hike.

The minimum wage was raised by some 34% to 11,402 lira ($423) for the second half of 2023.

According to Türk-İş, the increase in the inflation in the kitchen expenses was 12.38 percent monthly and 70.44 percent annually.

The cost of living of a single employee reached 15,123 lira.

The Turkish Statistical Institute (TÜİK) reported an annual inflation rate of 38.21 percent in June, whereas the independent inflation group ENAG put the figure at 108.58 percent. Millions of Turks cannot make ends meet due to soaring cost of living.

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