Starvation line in Turkey: 6 thousand 391 lira

Photo: Development Workshop

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The Confederation of Turkish Trade Unions (Türk-İş) has shared the results of its "Starvation and Poverty Line Survey", which it regularly conducts to illustrate the economic conditions in which citizens live.

According to the June 2022 results;

• The amount of minimum monthly food expenditure to be made by a family of four to have a healthy, balanced and adequate diet (starvation line) has increased to 8,313 Turkish Lira (TRY).
• The expenditures to be made by a family of four for food, clothing, housing (rent, electricity, water and fuel), transportation, education, healthcare, etc. (poverty line) amount to 20,818 TRY.
• The 'cost of living' of a single employee has increased to 8,313 Turkish Lira (TRY).

In January, when the minimum wage was increased to 4,252 TRY, the starvation line was 4,249 TRY, the poverty line was 13,843 TRY and the cost of living of a single employee was 5,587 TRY. In February, the starvation line increased to 4,552 TRY, the poverty line to 15,139 TRY and the cost of living of a single employee to 5,969 TRY.

According to the Türk-İş data, the expenditures to be made by a family of four for food has increased by 6.2 percent in a month while it has increased by 117 percent over the past 12 months.

"People sacrificing their food"

Türk-İş stated the following based on research:

"Unfortunately, the employment rate in our country is extremely low in general, especially amongst women. The number of people who provide income to the household is predominantly one person. When the earned wage is insufficient, the income obtained cannot meet the livelihood of more than one person. The amount of expenditure that must be made for 'human livelihood' per person is insufficient.

"Families are most likely able to obtain some of their non-nutritional expenditures (rent, transportation, fuel, electricity, etc.) by cutting back on their food expenses. As a result, low income causes families to have unbalanced diets." (HA/TB/SD)