The Ones Left out of Quarantine: Journey of Seasonal Agricultural Workers Begins

Click to read the article in Turkish

It is time to set off for seasonal agricultural workers who have been left out of quarantine. Urfa, a province in southeast Turkey, is one of the cities with the highest incidence of seasonal emigration.

Seasonal agricultural workers set off around the same time every year. What is different for them now is that they have to get a permit to travel.

One of the ones waiting in the line for the travel permit is Serhat Y. Serhat is a 21-year-old university student. He says that he has been a seasonal agricultural worker since he was a child.

Serhat tells us that he has 11 siblings and continues as follows: "Most of my brothers and sisters are children, they are aged 11 or 12 and we are all seasonal agricultural workers. People don't leave home. They say that they have quarantined themselves. It may be easy for them. But we cannot do this. We have to work. We have been waiting for the permit for a week."

Seasonal agricultural workers say that they cannot protect themselves from the outbreak. Serhat Y. indicates that the 1,000 lira aid given by the state is not enough for them and adds: "That money came and it is long gone. Everything is so expensive. Do you think such a big crowd is normal? Or, if we don't go to work, how will we live? We don't have an income or job here."

Agricultural workers say, "They should either end agricultural labor or ensure that we have rights. We live in 11-person family tents where we go. We work for peanuts in precarious, temporary jobs. We don't have rights. We are not even treated like fellow human beings most of the time."

What should be done?

CLICK - Agricultural Workers to Migrate Amid Pandemic, Government Has Done Little to Protect Them

Ertan Karabıyık from the Development Workshop previously spoke to Hikmet Adal from bianet about the condition of workers.

"The time for migration for seasonal agricultural workers is approaching," Karabıyık said, informing that 300 to 500 thousand workers usually migrate with their families. But it was not clear whether those younger than 18 and older than 65 would be able to join their families in migration this year due to the curfew imposed on people in those ages.

Karabıyık added, "We know that the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry is working on a new circular but there has been no information on the details yet. Participatory planning is needed for the migration of this many people. Farmers and agricultural intermediaries should be supported. Similarly, measures should be taken for agricultural workers.

"The state must take steps to avoid increasing contamination, especially in rural areas. Because if the number of quarantine zones increases in rural areas, agricultural production will be interrupted." (FY/DB/SD)