Turkish gov't to cover 40 pct of cost of minimum wage hike in 2016

The Turkish government will cover some 40 percent of the cost of a hike in the minimum wage due to come into effect on the first day of the new year but only for 2016, Labor and Social Security Minister Süleyman Soylu said early Dec. 30.

The minimum wage is expected to increase from 1,000 Turkish Liras to 1,300 liras, a move expected to cost the private sector around $9.2 billion, leading critics to warn of job losses. 

Soylu said 8.5 million minimum wage earners would benefit from the hike.

He noted that the proposal was brought by the cabinet to the parliament late Dec. 29 and the opposition parties welcomed the package. 

"Prime Minister Ahmet Davuto?lu has ordered to announce the hike as of today. We'll present our law proposal so as to make the hike possible effective as of Jan. 1, 2016," Soylu said. 

The Minimum Wage Commission will meet at 3:00 p.m. on Dec. 30 to discuss the issue, according to officials.In Photos: Turkey celebrates Christmas Eve with services In Photos: Turkey provides assistance in rare UN-backed swap dealHürriyet's Sebati Karakurt photographs Diyarbak?r's Sur amid curfew and clashesIn photos: Turkey commemorates Rumi with 'Night of Union' ceremony in KonyaIn Photos: Ta?yaran Valley in Aegean region to become nature parkPictures released by the Armed Forces depict destruction in southeastern Sur amid clashes, curfewIn Photos: Marks of violence visible across Nusaybin after lifting of curfewHalfeti - A town of mesmerizing beautyExhibition shows Istanbul through eyes of children Secret weapons of Turkish army: locally produced rocket launchers, missile systemsThe bugs of Ankara: The weirdest scenes that anyone can run into in Turkish capitalA bird's eye view tour of Turkey's eastern provinces of Van...