The monthly Hunger and Poverty Line Survey, released on Wednesday by Türk-İş, revealed that the amount that a family of four must earn monthly in order to pay rent and meet basic needs, such as food, transportation, clothing and education, also referred as the poverty line, rose from TL 2,465 in October to TL 2,533 in November.
Türk-İş stated that the living conditions of low income groups have worsened due to the economic crisis and increasing unemployment, arguing that in Turkey millions of families cannot afford diets which meet nutritional requirements and are living in conditions that fail to meet minimum standards.
The statement said the minimum wage in Turkey is still TL 546.48 despite these figures. While the daily expenditure of a family of four should be approximately TL 85 to be above the poverty line, the minimum daily wage is TL 18, approximately one-fifth of the necessary amount, the survey stated.
