Cream for the deputy, dry bread for the retiree
Retired The crooked salary increase system, which exacerbates the gap in pensions and plunges retirees and employees into poverty, is offering a sweet treat to those running the country. Over 16 million retirees and employees, trapped between hunger and poverty, dream of some relief with a raise in the new year. However, the New Year's raises will benefit high-paid executives, not low-paid workers and retirees. The President will receive 40 times the 1,857 lira raise the lowest-paid retiree will receive in the new year, ministers 36 times, and members of parliament 35 times. Thanks to their high salaries, the governing MPs will reap the rewards of the raise, while low- and fixed-income workers, civil servants, and retirees will still be left with nothing but dry bread.
67 THOUSAND TL TO ŞİMŞEK
Barring a significant deviation from projected inflation, 14.2 million retired workers, tradesmen, and farmers will receive an 11% raise in January 2026. However, the President, ministers, deputy ministers on the arbitration board, and members of parliament who deem this raise worthy of retirees will receive an 18% raise themselves. Because executives have higher salaries, the 7-point differential will have a much greater impact on salaries. For example, at the beginning of the year, the lowest-ranking retired worker will receive a 1,857 lira raise, while President Tayyip Erdoğan (including his position and pension) will receive a 70,532 lira raise, Treasury and Finance Minister Mehmet Şimşek and Labor Minister Vedat Işıkhan, who influence raise decisions, will receive a 67,637 lira raise, all deputy ministers, including those on the arbitration board, will receive a 40,765 lira raise, and members of parliament (who are also retired) will receive a 66,622 lira raise.
The lowest-ranking civil servant (servant) will be entitled to a raise of 9,175 lira, while the lowest-ranking retired civil servant will be entitled to a raise of 4,870 lira.
The gap in salary gaps between retirees and those in power will widen. The lowest-paid retiree will receive a total of 11,141 lira in additional income in the first six months. Since raises will continue to pour in during this period, covering January-June 2026, more of this income will be wasted. In contrast, ministers (also retirees) will receive a fortune-like additional salary increase of 406,000 lira in the first six months. The six-month raise will increase the President's income by approximately 446,000 lira. Members of Parliament will also receive an additional 400,000 lira.
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