ECONOMY - Bianet

ECONOMY

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Turkey raises natural gas prices, marking 150% increase in 16 months

Turkey raises natural gas prices, marking 150% increase in 16 months

Natural gas prices in Turkey continue to rise, bucking the global trend of falling costs.

Turkey’s unemployment rate at 8.4% in May

Turkey’s unemployment rate at 8.4% in May

Broadly defined unemployment, which includes time-related underemployment, potential labor force, and the unemployed, fell by 1.1 percentage points to 31%.

TURKSTAT and ENAG inflation figures show twofold discrepancy

TURKSTAT and ENAG inflation figures show twofold discrepancy

According to the Turkish Statistical Institute (TURKSTAT), inflation in May stood at 1.53% monthly and 35.41% annually. Food prices rose by 32.87% year-on-year, while housing expenses jumped by 67.43%. In contrast, the Inflation Research Group (ENAG) reported an annual inflation rate of 71.23%.

Turkish Statistical Institute: Financial outlook fails to improve, economic confidence declines

Turkish Statistical Institute: Financial outlook fails to improve, economic confidence declines

According to data from the Turkish Statistical Institute (TURKSTAT), the Consumer Confidence Index remained below the threshold level of 100 points in May, with expectations for the general economic situation continuing to deteriorate.

'They pay Mourinho millions': Workers at Fenerbahçe president’s oil company escalate wage protests

'They pay Mourinho millions': Workers at Fenerbahçe president’s oil company escalate wage protests

Tüpraş workers have been protesting since the failure of collective bargaining talks on Apr 21 and are now staging full-day work stoppages.

Turkey’s labor underutilization reaches pandemic level

Turkey’s labor underutilization reaches pandemic level

Despite a slight decrease in unemployment, labor underutilization continues to rise.

Onur Hamzaoğlu

Turkey's social security system, private hospitals and the function of the World Bank

Turkey's social security system, private hospitals and the function of the World Bank

In the AKP years, when health service provision in Turkey began to be defined as a new area of accumulation for capital owners, private hospitals became widespread across the country. Their number increased from 271 in 2002 to 565 in 2023 and spread to all provinces.

23 April 2025 Onur Hamzaoğlu

Turkish statistical authority ordered to disclose inflation basket data

Turkish statistical authority ordered to disclose inflation basket data

TurkStat has withheld the item-level price data used in inflation calculations for three years, defying a previous court ruling now upheld on appeal.

Thousands of workers stop work at Turkey’s largest oil refinery

Thousands of workers stop work at Turkey’s largest oil refinery

Workers stopped work for two hours at Tüpraş refineries after 13 rounds of collective bargaining negotiations failed to produce an agreement.

Hospital construction workers occupy entrance of contractor's HQ

Hospital construction workers occupy entrance of contractor's HQ

Workers accuse the company of withholding wages and stage a week-long protest at the company’s İstanbul office.

'Even goats are put on auction': Farmers face growing debt crisis, MP warns

'Even goats are put on auction': Farmers face growing debt crisis, MP warns

Turkey's farmers are struggling under record debt levels, with livestock, tractors, and farmland being seized and auctioned off through enforcement proceedings, says an opposition deputy.

Government says shopping boycott had no impact

Government says shopping boycott had no impact

Trade minister has said that credit card spending increased on Apr 2 despite the boycott, asserting that "the public has boycotted the boycotters."

Turkey’s inflation at 38.1% in March, food prices lead monthly rise

Turkey’s inflation at 38.1% in March, food prices lead monthly rise

The sharpest price increases were again seen in food and non-alcoholic beverages.

Actor, others detained over support for opposition-led boycott

Actor, others detained over support for opposition-led boycott

Several actors supporting the boycott campaign have been removed from projects ongoing projects by the state broadcaster TRT.

Thirty-five Turkish citizens on Forbes list highlight inequality

Thirty-five Turkish citizens on Forbes list highlight inequality

Turkey’s 35 billionaires hold nearly three times the total wealth of the poorest 50 percent of the population, approximately 42.5 million people.

İstanbul inflation rises 3.79 percent in March

İstanbul inflation rises 3.79 percent in March

Wholesale prices rose by 2.30% while the annual rate was over 46%

Turkey’s opposition launches nationwide no-shopping boycott

Turkey’s opposition launches nationwide no-shopping boycott

The CHP has expanded its boycott campaign from targeting conglomerates with close ties to the government to a one-day, nationwide no-shopping boycott.

Turkish lira tumbles as İmamoğlu's detention shakes markets

Turkish lira tumbles as İmamoğlu's detention shakes markets

Dollar, euro and gold saw historic highs against the lira.

'A hub of labor violations': İstanbul shipyard workers climb crane protesting unpaid wages

'A hub of labor violations': İstanbul shipyard workers climb crane protesting unpaid wages

The workers highlight unlawful practices by employers, such as misreporting their wages as minimum wage and falsely classifying dismissed workers as "resigned." They claim the government turns a blidn eye to these violations.

14 March 2025 Ali Dinç

Diyar Saraçoğlu

'Traditional unions struggle to understand tech sector'

'Traditional unions struggle to understand tech sector'

"Ultimately, tech organizing is still evolving, with workers adapting traditional methods to the unique challenges of the industry."

26 February 2025 Diyar Saraçoğlu

Union leader arrested amid Antep labor protests

Union leader arrested amid Antep labor protests

Mehmet Türkmen's arrest comes amid protests by textile workers in Antep over disputes regarding low wage increases.

17 February 2025

Thousands of KFC, Pizza Hut workers in Turkey unpaid amid debt restructuring

Thousands of KFC, Pizza Hut workers in Turkey unpaid amid debt restructuring

Workers have started protests in various cities demanding their receivables.

11 February 2025 Abbas Vural

Turkey’s unemployment rate drops to 8.5% in December

Turkey’s unemployment rate drops to 8.5% in December

The labor underutilization rate remained unchanged at 28.2%.

10 February 2025

Turkey's inflation surpasses expectations in January

Turkey's inflation surpasses expectations in January

The inflation rate rose by 5.03% in the last month.

3 February 2025

Share of working class in Turkey’s population grows over 50 years while unionization declines

Share of working class in Turkey’s population grows over 50 years while unionization declines

According to the latest statistics, the number of registered workers in Turkey reached 16 million in 2024. Including unregistered labor, the total workforce in the 2020s is estimated to be around 22-24 million, making up nearly 28% of the population. However, the unionization rate has dropped to half of its 1970s level of 25-30%, now standing at 15%.

29 January 2025

Public transport fares go up by 35% in Istanbul

Public transport fares go up by 35% in Istanbul

The 35% increase will impact 7 million people who use public transport in Istanbul.

15 January 2025

18 detentions in street protest against new low minimum wage

18 detentions in street protest against new low minimum wage

Members of the Hakkımı Ver [‘Give Me My Right’] Platform marched against the announcement of the new minimum wage which rose at a lower rate than annual inflation. Workers, opening a banner on İstiklal Street, the main thoroughfare of the central Beyoğlu district, shouted the slogan “Let’s see Vedat (Işıkhan, Minister of Labour and Social Security) live on this minimum wage” and were detained.

25 December 2024

Price of raw milk increases by 49% in a year

Price of raw milk increases by 49% in a year

he average annual milk equivalent consumption per capita in Turkey was about 253 kilograms in 2022, close to European countries.

18 December 2024

Turkey’s finance minister signals above-inflation raise for minimum wage

Turkey’s finance minister signals above-inflation raise for minimum wage

Mehmet Şimşek's statements fueled expectations that the government could make a higher increase to the minimum wage.

17 December 2024

Strike bans affected over 200,000 workers in Turkey during Erdoğan's rule

Strike bans affected over 200,000 workers in Turkey during Erdoğan's rule

In two decades, the government postponed 21 strikes, affecting over 200,000 workers.

16 December 2024

Metal workers defy Erdoğan’s strike ban after failed negotiations

Metal workers defy Erdoğan’s strike ban after failed negotiations

About 1,500 workers working at several factories continue their strike despite a presidential decree.

16 December 2024

Turkey’s underemployment reaches highest level in nearly four years

Turkey’s underemployment reaches highest level in nearly four years

The labor underutilization rate has reached 27.6% in October, up by 1.9 points in a month.

11 December 2024