13.8 percent increase to public servants wages

Government Spokesman and Justice Minister Cemil Cicek said last night that public servants would be getting a wage rise of 6 percent for each half in 2004, making a cumulative increase of 13.8 percent and handing a once only stipend of TL160 million.

Speaking after a 6.5 hour Cabinet meeting yesterday, Cicek said that this would provide an increase higher than the projected inflation rate for the year of 12 percent.

Cicek said that local government and state reform package was completed and had been presented to relevant institutions for their opinion, adding that the package would be sent to Parliament as soon as possible.