Civil Servant Wage Proposal Causes Controversy

Given the high rate of inflation and the rapidly rising cost of living in Türkiye, encountering controversy is inevitable when discussing wage increases, as the salary remains the same despite increasing expenses. Wage gaps between professions also cause debate, with many individuals questioning how salary figures are determined. Is it education, work intensity, or other factors driving the differences? These questions have gained renewed urgency following the government’s recent proposal for new civil servant wages, which has drawn criticism and reignited calls for greater transparency in pay-setting practices.

The government announced a proposal to increase the wages of current and retired civil servants for the years 2026-2027. According to the plan, civil servants’ salaries will undergo a 10% increase in the first 6 months of 2026, followed by 6% in the second half of the year. In 2027, it will be raised by 4% in both the first and second six-month periods.

The proposal was found to be insufficient by the unions. Önder Kahveci, the president of the Türkiye Public Workers' Union (Kamu-sen) and Turkish Health Union (Sağlık-sen), stated that the minimum civil servant salary should be 70 thousand Turkish liras (approximately 1710 US dollars as of 15 August 2025) and the average should be 84 thousand TL (2050 USD). Kahveci stated that the current proposal doesn’t establish a relationship based on mutual respect, trust, and collaboration between employers and employees, nor does it eliminate wage disparity. He also mentioned that various requests have been communicated to the government within the scope of social rights, like increased 2025 Family Year support and tax brackets. He emphasized that the collective bargaining talks should be finished quickly and that outcomes should be reached at the table without jeopardizing the essential aspects of unionism. The aim is to raise living standards for workers and strengthen social trust. By securing concrete benefits for families, these efforts seek to reduce economic strain, boost overall welfare levels, and contribute to long-term stability.

The public's reaction to the proposal was mixed; some agreed with Kahveci, some compared the pay of civil servants to that of public workers, and some said that people should be more appreciative.

Multiple accounts on X have called on all civil servant unions to come together, setting aside their different views and acting as one body, mirroring the unity in workers' unions, to jointly oppose the government proposal. Comparisons with public workers seem to be the core issue in the controversy, as, allegedly, according to the government’s offer, the lowest civil servant salary remains below that of a cleaner on a permanent staff. This situation indirectly contradicts Article 31 of Law No. 4688: “Provisions that disrupt institutional hierarchy cannot be included in the collective agreement.”

As of early August, the proposal for public workers, which includes a 24% increase plus an additional 11%, as well as a daily amount of 50 TL for the year 2025, has been accepted by the public worker unions. Considering that the current average salary is 36k TL, after the raises, the salary is projected to be around 51k. On the other hand, the current average salary for civil servants is 39k and will reach approximately 49k after the raises. While some social media users agreed that worker salaries have already surpassed those of civil servants, according to them, the workers’ salaries must be closer to 70k. The discrepancy between the two figures may be due to a method of negotiating a higher salary, a difference in employees’ experiences from which data is gathered, or confusion between net and gross salary. Thus, the numbers are exaggerated by social media and the spread of misinformation.

Civil servant positions usually require competitive exams, degrees, or specific professional training, as well as going through demanding selection procedures, whereas public worker positions require skills and training but often are not on the same level as those of civil servants. Hence, civil servant positions have higher qualification requirements and longer processes, which is why they are usually expected to be paid more than public workers. Conversely, public employees are frequently employed under more flexible contracts, which means their salary is not as fixed and is mostly dependent on market rates and union negotiations. They also typically work in worse conditions than civil servants. Nonetheless, this argument is not enough for most, as civil servants are gaining their comfortable position through merit and should be paid based on it, rather than being punished for striving for better working conditions.

The next rounds of negotiations will shape the final 2026–2027 wage framework, meaning there is still a week or so for adjustments to the percentages, additional allowances, or benefits.

Edited by: Leyla Hacıoğlu