Over 28,000 workers killed in occupational homicides during AKP's rule

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At least 28,380 workers have lost their lives in occupational homicides since the Justice and Development Party (AKP) took power in November 2002, according to a new report from the Health and Safety Labor Watch (İSİG).

The İSİG pointed out many incidents of mass worker deaths in the last 19 years, including the 2014 Soma mine explosion, the deaths during the construction of the İstanbul Airport and the 2011 explosion in an organized industrial zone in the capital city of Ankara.

"The prevailing situation in our country is the existence of an occupational homicide regime," said the İSİG.

"Injustice and impunity after occupational homicides became a rule. Those who are principally responsible could not be brought to the court and those who are secondarily responsible were given short-term prison sentences," it said.

Occupational diseases

Worker deaths related to occupational diseases were five to six times higher than the number of occupational homicides, according to the report.

"Between four and 12 new cases of occupational diseases are expected for every thousand workers annually. In other words, approximately between 120,000 and 360,000 workers are diagnosed with an occupational every year.

"However, the SGK [Social Security Institution] has found about 500 cases of occupational diseases and announced five to 20 deaths related to occupational diseases annually. The state concealed occupational diseases."

Child workers

"The state didn't even comply with its own laws, working children haven't been protected. Aprt from being employed in banned sectors, children below the age of 15 are also employed," İSİG noted.

It further said that 60 to 70 child workers have lost their lives annually in the past two decades. (EMK/VK)