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Comment by muhuk | Hacker News Reader

When you say minimum wage has increased 500%, those who don't know the inflation rate is ~10% will think people got 5 times richer. There is indeed more to this story than meets the eye; minimum wage is below the poverty limit.

https://www.google.com.sg/search?q=turkey+minimum+wage

http://tr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yoksulluk_s%C4%B1n%C4%B1r%C4%B1 (poverty level 2013: 3280TL for a family of 4)

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Following your first link, at €429/month Turkey has a higher minimum wage than wealthier European countries (Poland, Czech Republic, baltic nations).

OECD says the minimum wage is 71% of the median wage [1] and calls lowering it a priority [2].

The Economist also calls it "high" and recommends it be lowered. [3]

[1] http://stats.oecd.org/Index.aspx?DatasetCode=MIN2AVE

[2] http://www.oecd.org/turkey/47471935.pdf

[3] http://www.economist.com/node/18651739

I don't know the taxes in other, more wealthier, countries but when you deduct income taxes TRY 773 (EUR 317) is left. [1]

I think this is beside the point. Parent is suggesting a 500% increase when AKP was ruling. I wanted to point out that this is a wordplay. Please read parent and then my comment again.

1: http://www.muhasebetr.com/2013-asgari-ucret.html

Parent is suggesting a 500% increase when AKP was ruling. I wanted to point out that this is a wordplay.

You're right on this point, it's only 143% in real terms (after inflation).

I could refute other points in his argument. But I'd rather spend my energy in productive endeavors. I hope just this one will make people re-evaluate the credibility of his other claims.

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