Turkish poverty threshold reaches above 16,000 liras

Duvar English

Turkey's poverty threshold increased to 16,052 liras in March, almost four times higher than minimum wage (4,250 liras), data from the Confederation of Turkish Trade Unions (Türk-İş) showed.

The poverty threshold indicates the money needed for a family of four to feed itself sufficiently and healthily, and it also covers the expenditures on basic necessities such as clothing, rent, electricity, water, transportation, education and health.

The hunger threshold, which indicates the minimum amount of money needed to save a four-member family from starvation a month, became 4,927 liras in March, 675 liras above the minimum wage of 4,250 liras.

According to Türk-İş, the increase in the inflation in the kitchen expenses was 8.74 percent monthly and 76.39 percent annually.

The report stated that a single worker earning minimum wage needs to earn an additional 2,220 liras in order to lead a "decently" life, and that the "cost of living" of a single employee has risen to 6,474 liras.

The monthly food expenditure of an adult man is 1,495 liras whereas it is 1,176 liras for an adult woman, according to the data. The monthly food expenditure of a youth aged between 15-18 is 1,475 liras, while it is 782 liras for a child aged between 4-6.

Turkey reported an annual inflation of 54.4 percent in February, while independent research group ENAG put the figure at 123.80 percent.

Turkish citizens are struggling to adapt and survive in the face of the lira's crash and soaring inflation.