Only pro-government and state news agencies allowed at minimum wage meeting

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The Minimum Wage Determination Commission held its first meeting yesterday (December 1) to set next year's minimum wage.

Representatives of the Ministry of Labor and Social Security, the Turkish Confederation of Employer Associations (TİSK) and the Confederation of Turkish Trade Unions (Türk-İş) took part in the meeting.

Citing coronavirus measures, the ministry allowed reporters from only four news outlets at the meeting: the state-run Anadolu Agency (AA), the state broadcaster TRT, the İhlas News Agency (İHA) and the Demirören News Agency (DHA).

Releasing a written statement, the Journalists' Union of Turkey (TGS) denounced the ministry's decision.

"Discriminating between press members, who are responsible for conveying the meeting where the fate of millions will be decided, and allowing only agencies close to the government is clearly censorship," said the TGS. "The ministry should immediately give up on this attitude. This pro-censorship mentality cannot prevent journalism."

CLICK - BİA Media Monitoring Database

(HA/VK)