68 Workers Reported Dead At Work in January

According to a report released by Worker Health and Work Security Assembly, at least 68 workers were reported killed at work in January. The most worker casualties were reported in mining (16), construction (15) and metal (10) sectors. Zonguldak province topped the list with most casualties (11) in January, followed by Gaziantep (10), Istanbul (6) and Izmir (4).

Reminding the 7 January mining accident in Zonguldak province which killed 8 miners, the report held Labor Ministry, Star Construction Firm and Coal Institution of Turkey responsible.

"The contracted mining firm, Star Construction, belongs to Nationalist Movement Party deputy Ruhsar Demirel's spouse. The other contractor, Pano Mining, belongs to Dursun Akyürek, Coal Institution of Turkey chairperson," the report said. "We have previously heard of Star Construction workers' complaints about wages and work safety. They complained that some workers even lacked gas masks. In July, they went on strike for their demands. The ministry's lack of controls even appeared on State Audit Council's reports."

The report also reminded the 30 January Galvanize Factory incident in Gaziantep province with 7 workers casualties, saying that the factory owners, organized industry zone officials and Labor Ministry responsible.

"According to a statement by Faruk Çelik, labor minister, the factory was inspected twice during 2011, receiving fines due the lack of necessary precautions. Fatma Şahin, family and social policies minister, also said the incident uncovered the alien worker reality in Turkey," the report cited.

According to statistic released by Labor Ministry, 12,418 workers were reported killed at work between 2001 and 2011. Worker Health and Work Security Assembly reported that at least 878 workers were killed at work in 2012. (NV/BM)