Higher pay pledged for Turkish university researchers

ISTANBUL - Anadolu Agency

Young academics and research assistants in Turkish universities will receive a 35-percent hike on their wages after Eid al-Adha, the prime minister has said. AA Photo

Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoğlu has promised to increase the wages of young academics and research assistants at Turkish state universities by around 35 percent.

“Hopefully, we will pass a legal amendment following the Eid al-Adha holiday to make up the difference between salaries of academic research assistants and those who begin working at the state institutions like the Treasury, the Finance Ministry and the Foreign Ministry,” Davutoğlu said.

He made the remarks at a meeting of the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) in Istanbul’s Haliç Congress Center late on Oct. 5.

The prime minister also added that the raise would be followed by an additional incentive of up to 20 percent for certain academic studies.

“In this sense, we are resolute in taking more comprehensive steps forward at our universities,” Davutoğlu said.