Following recent negotiations, collective bargaining and statements from ministries, it was announced that many workers and retirees would see pay increases starting in January. Recent developments indicate that the raises will not be limited to a single group: pensions, senior citizen allowances, wages for workers and other employees will all be adjusted. With public servant increases once again in the spotlight, pay raises will come from both agreed percentage rises and additional inflation adjustments. Details of the new pay levels, determined separately for each group, are as follows.
Increases in Public Servant Salaries
After talks with unions, a 4% raise for public servants was agreed. That 4% increase may be adjusted according to inflation figures. If inflation at the end of 2017 exceeds the 4% rate, the difference between the new inflation rate and 4% will be added to the public servant increase and paid to employees.
The raises public servants receive in 2018 will not be limited to the 4% base increase and inflation adjustments. Additional increases may be applied under collective agreements reached with public sector employees. The salary adjustments for civil servants will take effect in January 2018, and employees will receive the higher amount in their first paychecks after that date.
Wage and Benefit Increases for 2018
Alongside public servant raises, significant increases are planned for pensioners, workers and those who are unemployed or need care. Starting with family assistance, payments to spouses and to children above and below the 6-year threshold will rise. The new amounts are 227.94 TL for a spouse, 26.70 TL for children over 6, and 51.35 TL for children under 6. Previously, spouses received 219.17 TL, children over 6 received 25.68 TL, and children under 6 received 51.35 TL. Comparing the new figures with 2017 amounts shows family assistance rising from 321.71 TL to 334.74 TL.
There is also an increase in the allowance commonly known as the 65+ pension. The monthly payment for qualifying recipients has been raised from 754.45 TL to 784.64 TL. With this change, those eligible for the 65+ allowance will receive the new amounts in their payments, which are disbursed quarterly.
Payments for home care recipients and those who care for a disabled relative have been increased as well. Previously, family members or caregivers of people with a 50% disability report received 1,027 TL; after the raise this amount is 1,068 TL. In addition, the home care allowance will be adjusted automatically in line with increases to public servant salaries.
Another widely anticipated change is the adjustment to the minimum wage. Currently, the net minimum wage is 1,404.06 TL and the gross wage is recorded as 1,777.50 TL. With the planned increase, the minimum wage is expected to rise by 8% as of January 2018, bringing the gross amount to approximately 1,919.70 TL.
Finally, unemployment benefits will also increase. The unemployment payment, which was at least 705.60 TL this year, is confirmed to rise to 762.05 TL. These increases will take effect from January 2018.