Businesses group head claims that Turkish lawmakers, governors have ‘low salaries’

ZONGULDAK – Doğan News Agency

The salaries of lawmakers and governors are very low and “people are wrong to think they earn a lot of money,” Union of Chambers and Commodity Exchanges of Turkey (TOBB) head Rifat Hisarcıklıoğlu has claimed. 

“You need to appreciate a job done properly,” Hisarcıklıoğlu said at an economic summit in the Black Sea province of Zonguldak on Aug. 10. 

“People think this is some kind of flattery, but it’s not. You need to appreciate a good job. Those who are in this profession are not in it for the money. The salary we give to governors is not a [proper] salary, and frankly the wages of lawmakers are not [proper] wages. People think that they earn a lot but come to Ankara and see how they live,” he added.

Suggesting that “the same applies to chamber heads and mayors,” Hisarcıklıoğlu said that if people in these posts receive enough appreciation then “they serve magnificently.” 

“You assume they get paid a lot. The same goes for chamber heads and mayors. But when you applaud and appreciate them when they do their jobs right, they serve you magnificently,” he added. 

MPs’ monthly salary is currently 17,000 Turkish Liras (around $4,800), while their retirement pension is 8,500 liras. Provincial governors, meanwhile, earn 9,000 liras a month. GDP per head in Turkey was $10,787 in 2016, according to figures from the World Bank.