Perilous Working Conditions in Turkey's Shipyards

Worker Mahmut Altınöz became the 15th casualty in a Turkish shipyard this year. Altınöz lost his life as a result of a work accident. Union chairman Dinç cirticized, "The government is to be held responsible for the fact that employers do not give any importance to the safety of their employees' lives".

Bawer Çakır

Perilous Working Conditions in Turkey's Shipyards

30-year-old worker Mahmut Altınöz was painting the hull of the 'Geleş' ship when he lost his balance and fell to the ground. The ship belongs to the Çeliktrans Shipyard operating in Tuzla, at the eastern tip of the Sea of Marmara, about 50 km out of Istanbul.

Altınöz was taken to the GİSPİR Hospital where he died of the severe injuries caused by the accident.

Altınöz, leaving behind his wife and 1 child, is the 15^th person who died within the last 11 months in shipyards all around the country, namely in Tuzla, Kocaeli, Gölcük, Zonguldak Ereğli and Aliağa.

"Government on ease for lacking precautions of employers"

The Harbour, Shipyard, Shipbuilding and Repair Workers' Union (Limter İş) chairman Cem Dinç indicated, "The employers who do not care about their workers' safety of life and make them work without social security present 2 choices to us: either oppression or death. This power is given to them by the government, which did not take any measures at all to prevent the deaths that happened in Tuzla", Dinç warned.

Dinç stated, "It is obvious from where the employers take the power for their recklessness". The union chairman criticized that the government did not take the necessary steps regarding the casualties.

LİMTER-İŞ issued a press release this morning in front of the ship where Altinöz lost his life. Dinç told bianet that after the press release union members will come to the Istanbul Governor's Office to talk to governor Muammer Güler.

Dinç pointed out, "Considering that Güler is responsible for this city and its inhabitants, we want to explain our troubles and we will demand to protect the safety of our lives".

In the year 2008 a total of 21 workers died during their work in shipyards. According to information from LIMTER-İŞ, at least 131 workers died in shipyards since 1992, including the latest cases. The union emphasized that this is the minimum number of casualties, not including the estimated number of unreported cases, i.e. the ones that were not reported by the media, the unknown and the ones found out about later. (BÇ/VK)