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4.5 Labour and income
4.5.1 Labour market, unemployment dynamics
A labour dispute, which began with the dismissal of nine workers who joined labour union Birlesik Metal (a member of leftist small confederation DISK), was resolved at Japanese auto parts maker Mitsuba’s plant in Kocaeli after the company and the union held talks.
4.5.2 Income dynamics
The minimum wage fell below the $300-level again. A sharp rise will occur in 2022. Minimum wage talks will be held in December.
Wage talks in Turkey’s metal products sector kicked off between three labour unions and employers’ union MESS.
The wage talks cover some 130,000 workers in nearly 180 companies, including carmakers Ford Otosan (FROTO), Renault and Tofas (TOASO) as well as home appliance and electronic goods producers Bosch, Arcelik (ARCLK) and Siemens.
The talks are focused on the September 2021-September 2023 period, with side benefits among issues to be negotiated.
The largest organised labour union in the metal products industry, Turk Metal, is demanding a 26% pay rise for the first six months and another increase in line with the inflation rate for the following six months. Smaller unions, Birlesik Metal (DISK) and Ozcelik-Is, are pressing for a 31% pay rise.
32 TURKEY Country Report November 2021 www.intellinews.com