As per a new research by Clean Clothes Campaign (CCC) Turkey, there is an urgent need to increase the minimum living wage for garment workers as the current legal only 25 per cent of the workers’ daily needs.
The Turkish garment sector employs around 1,5 million workers who make clothes for reputed lobal fashion brands, including: Adidas, Banana Republic, Benetton, Boohoo, C&A, Esprit, GAP, G-star, Hugo Boss, H&M, Inditex – Zara, Levi’s, Marks & Spencer, Next, Nike, Puma, Primark, Urban Outfitters, and VF. The clothes made them are exported to top five export destinations including Germany, Spain, UK, Netherlands and France. CCC Turkey research shows, these workers earn below the prescribed legal minimum wage which makes survival difficult for them.
The report found that one in three garment workers earns just the legal minimum wage – even with overtime. The minimum wage currently in Turkey is 4.253 TRY or 241 EUR net, but a basic living wage would be at least 13.000 TRY or 880 EUR (for January 2022), states CCC Turkey. Calculations by the Confederation of Turkish Trade Unions (TÜRK-İŞ) have found similar results.
BegoDemir, Coordinator, CCC Turkey, says, due to hyperinflation, garment workers in Turkey are confronted with the insoluble problem of sustaining their families. The state gives incentives to employers, but it doesn’t control the implementation of labor law in the sector. The Turkish government needs to ensure compliance to the law. All brands that have their supply chain in Turkey also must make sure all the workers behind their products reach all their rights, he adds.
