The monthly Hunger and Poverty Line Survey, released on Sunday 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 to as the poverty line, rose from TL 2,533 in November to TL 2,588 in December.
Türk-İş stated that the rise in wages is determined to be at a level lower than the increase in expenses, which results in a worsening of the living conditions of workers and pensioners. “The living conditions of workers are approaching the ‘misery’ line with the rises in transportation fees within the city and electricity along with expected price hikes for natural gas and other basic goods and services,” the survey stated. The statement said the minimum wage in Turkey is still TL 546.48 despite these figures, and added that the minimum wage for 2010 is expected to be announced this week; however, it continued, the new minimum wage will again be lower than the hunger line just as in previous years.
