KTAMS: Hunger Threshold for a Family of 4 Reaches 20,933 TL by End of January

In a written statement, KTAMS President Güven Bengihan stated that according to their union's research, the compulsory food expenditure for healthy nutrition is calculated as follows: 178.92 TL per day and 5,367.6 TL per month for an adult woman, 186.69 TL per day and 5,600.7 TL per month for an adult man, 198.99 TL per day and 5,969.7 TL per month for a child aged 15-19, and 133.18 TL per day and 3,995.4 TL per month for a child aged 4-6.

Bengihan noted that the report is prepared based on the food pattern necessary for a family of four to have a healthy diet, as well as the prices of these items sent to the union by the Bed Treatment Institutions Department affiliated with the Ministry of Health of the TRNC.

Referring to the official figures of the Statistical Institute, which indicate that inflation was 3.84% in January and the annual inflation rate was 85.81%, Bengihan pointed out that despite the use of Turkish Lira in the country and the importation of many products from Turkey, the monthly cost of living increased by 3.84% in the TRNC compared to 6.70% in Turkey. He emphasized that this discrepancy is due to the fact that the basket used for calculating the cost of living has not been updated since 2015, despite all the persistent demands of the union.

In his statement, Bengihan added:

"The urgent updating of the basket to eliminate the situation that renders the cost of living allowance meaningless in terms of preserving the purchasing power of workers is crucial. Additionally, we demand effective inspections to prevent arbitrary price practices, as promised by the Prime Minister, which contribute to the increase in the cost of living."