Bengihan: “Minimum Wage Workers Are Not Slaves”

Bengihan said that increases in the minimum wage are intended to protect workers’ purchasing power, which has been eroded by high inflation, and argued that the burden of structural economic problems cannot be placed on employees. “Minimum wage workers are not slaves,” he said.

In a written statement, Bengihan criticised Arhun’s remarks, arguing that they reflect an approach focused on employer costs rather than workers’ living conditions.

He said Arhun had created the impression of an “extraordinary increase” by noting that the minimum wage in sterling terms had risen from around 400 pounds to 1,045 pounds over the past three years, but accused him of ignoring high inflation, cost of living increases, and the decline in purchasing power.

Bengihan stated that wage adjustments should not be seen as salary increases, but as measures to compensate for the loss of purchasing power. He added that over the same period there had been significant increases in rent, electricity, water, fuel, education, healthcare and basic consumer costs, all calculated in sterling.

He also noted that according to official statistics, annual inflation has reached levels of up to 80 percent in recent years, with some basic goods increasing even more sharply.

“Comparisons based only on wages are misleading”

Bengihan argued that comparing wages alone is misleading, stressing that rising costs in rent, education and healthcare must also be taken into account.

Comparing inflation rates with European countries, he said inflation in Europe remains in single digits—mostly around 2–3 percent—while workers locally are struggling under cost-of-living increases of up to 80 percent.

He said focusing only on wage comparisons ignores the reality faced by workers.

“Workers should not pay for structural problems”

Bengihan added that workers cannot be made to bear the cost of structural economic problems such as a currency-dependent economy, unregulated price increases, informal economic activity, and weaknesses in production policy.

He said that if European standards are to be used as a reference, then not only wages but also strong social protections, robust trade union rights, low inflation and dignified living standards must be taken into account.