They were almost getting used to it! It's not me saying it, the statistics are

I was chatting with someone while shopping at a store in Eskişehir the other day. The sales clerk was a bright, well-spoken, lovely young woman.

One thing led to another, and she mentioned that she was a graduate of the Faculty of Engineering and Architecture.

I was very surprised. When I asked, "Why aren't you pursuing a career in your profession?" she replied without hesitation that she was earning minimum wage as a shop assistant, and that was including her meal allowance.

The "low wage" policy recently experienced in the construction sector is quite distressing.

The fact that the number of engineers has increased beyond demand and that infrastructure investment budgets have decreased has increased the demand for jobs while dramatically driving down wages.

Companies have no trouble finding engineers to work for lower wages. Those who manage to get minimum wage are almost celebrating, saying, "At least I found a job." Many others are either unemployed or forced to work off the books for less than minimum wage.

The financial hardships and unmet expectations following a rigorous education trigger an "emotional burnout" syndrome. It increases anxiety, especially in young people who have just started their careers, leading to despondency and driving up the use of "ATARAX."

It's not me saying it, the statistics are.

Now, don't we have construction firms that treat their engineers like gods? Of course we do. God bless them. They are held in high regard.

They say there is no harm in a parable; let me continue today's article with one.

Nasreddin Hodja was reducing his donkey's barley day by day while increasing its load. The poor creature, Karakaçan, didn't make a sound.

One day, when the donkey seemed about to make a sound, the Hodja reduced the barley a little more and increased the load, and the donkey immediately fell silent.

When the neighbors said to the Hodja, "Don't do this, it's a pity for this poor creature, it's also one of God's servants, can you load so much on it, it will die, this poor thing!" the Hodja pretended not to hear.

He didn't pay any attention at all.

The poor thing resigned itself to its fate, enduring the burden of carrying heavy loads with little barley, thinking it would be rewarded in heaven for the suffering it endured in this world.

It kept quiet because it thought of its foals in the stable and was afraid of being left without any feed at all. Since heaven was guaranteed anyway, and it was somehow managing to provide for its foals, it left its objections to the afterlife. Its faith in God and concern for its foals' future gave strength to its legs.

It carried the Hodja's loads, hungry and helpless, as long as it could.

However, one day, when it no longer had the strength to endure, it collapsed right where it stood.

Seeing the poor creature lying breathless on the ground, the Hodja's neighbors said, "Do you see, Hodja, the result of constantly reducing the barley and increasing the load! The poor donkey has gone to the great beyond, what a heartless Hodja you are."

The Hodja looked at his neighbors mischievously and said, "But it was just getting used to it."

My Almighty God: You are the Judge, the Skilled, the Possessor of Power; protect our engineers with Your wisdom, grant them clarity of mind, provide them with sufficient wages, and make their end good, so that our country may be built and prosper.

Otherwise, it is clear for all to see what their end will be.