Report by HDP on Seasonal Agricultural Workers

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The Peoples’ Democratic Party (HDP) Labor Commission has released its Report of Seasonal Agriculture Workers.

Prepared by meeting with seasonal agricultural workers in Adana, Ankara, Manisa and İzmir, the 12-page report includes problems of seasonal agricultural workers and solution offers.

Population of 1 million

According to stats included in the report, the seasonal agricultural workers whose population was shown as 300,000 are estimated to account for at least a population of 1 million with illicit workers and their children.

By April in which agricultural production increases, migration of millions of mobile agricultural workers begins.

Problems of seasonal agricultural workers

They have no legal protection

They have no social security

They are deprived of basic health services

They are deprived of basic education rights

They have fundamental shelter issues

Problem of transportation causes violation of right to live

Their average work time exceeds 12 hours

Their salaries are low

They are subjected to ethnical discrimination

They are subjected to social isolation

Child employment is high

Exploitation of women is high

Solution offers

Rights must be secured by law

Equal wage for equal labor to be implemented

Measures will be taken against all sorts of discrimination

Freedom to organize will be accorded to the seasonal agricultural workers

Child employment to be prevented

Agricultural fields and seasonal agricultural workers to be secured by labor law

Enforcement against discrimination within the scope of hate speech. (BK/TK)