Gürcafer: We do not accept being declared as an enemy of workers

Cafer Gürcafer, President of the Cypriot Turkish Building Contractors Association (CTBCA), stated that the objection to the minimum wage was not an objection made as the common voice of the CTBCA and employer organizations, and said, “We will not accept being declared as an enemy of workers, yet again, just because someone has set out to engage in populism.”

Gürcafer noted that the State cannot discriminate among its own workers and stated that it is not appropriate to treat permanent public employees uniquely and everyone else as if they exist under different conditions.

Cafer Gürcafer stated that while there is a mechanism that determines the cost of living of public employees, there is also another commission that specify the cost of living of ordinary workers and attempting to make any assessment as if those people exist under different conditions; is an outdated populist approach.

Noting that the State’s employee wage policy should be evaluated within the context of the economy as a whole and that this policy should be brought together via a structure that includes permanent staff experts in addition to non-governmental organization representatives, as stakeholders. Gürcafer also emphasized the need for reform.

CTBCA President Cafer Gürcafer said, “We need a strong body that works on wage policies within the entirety of the economy, not one that just determines the cost of living. It is high time for reform in this regard. The State should put an end to this outdated structure as soon as possible and institute regulations that will meet the real need,” he said.