Erdoğan's May 1 statement

Reminding that they opened Taksim Square to the celebrations, President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan said in his statements after the "13th Labor Assembly Dinner", "While it is known to everyone that Taksim Square is not suitable for rallies, I do not find such impositions right." Erdoğan invited unions and political parties to stay away from steps that would harm the May 1st atmosphere. President Erdoğan attended the "13th Labor Assembly Dinner" in the Presidential Complex Exhibition Hall. Making statements after the dinner, Erdoğan congratulated May 1st Labor and Solidarity Day. Stating that May 1st had long been seen as a symbol of conflict and struggle, Erdoğan said that they accepted May 1st as Labor and Solidarity Day in 2008, declared it a holiday in 2009, and allowed celebrations in Taksim in 2010. Despite this, Erdoğan stated that the opposition and some marginal groups were trying to cast a shadow over May 1st, and said, "While it is known to everyone that Taksim Square is not suitable for a rally, I do not find such impositions right." Erdoğan stated that 40 different routes had been determined for the celebrations to be held in Istanbul and that it was not in good faith to organize a march or rally in an area other than those permitted, and called on unions and political parties to stay away from steps that would harm the atmosphere of May 1st. "Construction is progressing slowly due to lack of workers" Reminding that the net minimum wage was increased to 17 thousand 2 liras in 2024, Erdoğan said, "We introduced tax exemption for earnings up to the minimum wage. Our employment number increased to 32 million 423 thousand. According to the latest data, the unemployment rate was at 8.7 percent. The number of labor force increased by 775 thousand people in the last year. I believe that the unemployment rate will increase even more in the future. It is seen that the most important problem is not being able to find workers. There is a problem of intermediate staff. Our tradesmen complain about not being able to find apprentices. Due to the lack of workers and masters in the construction sector, the work is progressing slower than it should be." Erdoğan, who stated that they encountered an understanding that portrayed the sides of the working life as enemies in the country and the world, continued as follows: "This rigid ideological approach that describes the conflicting and belligerent life only in terms of friend and foe will not be good for our country. The struggle for rights is not an enmity towards employers and capital. It is clear that it is a system that is more suitable for our cultural and civilization codes, where the worker's wage is given without sweat and receives the share he deserves from the added value. Neither the rights of the worker will be usurped nor the boss will be alienated. We will act with each other's sense of responsibility. It is certain that we will be successful in other areas of the economy as well."