Unions in Turkey, UK demand suspension of free trade deal over labor concerns

* Photo: United Metal Workers' Union / Twitter

Along with the Confederation of Progressive Trade Unions of Turkey (DİSK) and Confederation of Public Employees Trade Unions (KESK), the Trades Union Congress (TUC) of the United Kingdom (UK) demand the suspension of the free trade agreement signed between the two countries.

Expressing concerns about Turkey's treatment of public employees and trade unionists, all three organizations underline that Turkey must respect the conventions of the International Organization (ILO) if it wants to trade with the UK under the deal signed in December 2020.

CLICK - Free trade agreement between Turkey and the UK

The UK has signed its first free trade agreement for the post-Brexit period with Turkey on December 29, 2020. It has come into force in 2021.

Absent a deal, about 75 percent of Turkey's exports to UK would be subject to tariffs, causing losses of some 2.4 billion dollars, but the deal eliminates this risk, said Turkey's Minister of Trade Ruhsar Pekcan at the online ceremony, adding, "We reached a tariff-free agreement, as planned, which includes all industrial and agricultural goods."

'UK government must use its leverage'

Speaking to the US-based POLITICO magazine, Trades Union Congress (TUC) Secretary General Frances O'Grady has urged "the UK government to use its leverage in this deal to demand that the Turkish government recognizes and respects the rights of working people and unions."

The TUC has noted that suspending the deal would hurt British businesses that benefit from tariff-free goods from Turkey. "But the principle is an important one to hit home to Turkey," it has added further.

Arzu Çerkezoğlu, the Chair of Turkey's DİSK confederation, has also stated, "This trade agreement between Turkey and the UK could be a new platform to discuss international labour rights in Turkey."

CLICK - DİSK Chair Arzu Çerkezoğlu acquitted

'A country egregiously violating human rights'

Rosa Crawford, a policy officer at the TUC, has also reiterated her union's demand and said, "You cannot offer more economic access to a country that is egregiously violating human rights."

Crawford has added that what the unions want is not the total elimination of the deal, but its suspension to put pressure on Turkey.

"It is important that we do support our economy and good jobs, but it should not be at the cost of endorsing regimes that violate human rights."

She has also noted that negotiations for a new trade deal with Turkey, as it was announced when the trade agreement was sealed between the countries in December, will offer a chance to protect workers' rights.

'Sanctions should be an option'

What the TUC is now calling for is enforceable clauses that would allow trade unions to trigger investigations into violations of labor standards.

According to what Crawford has said, "sanction or suspension of market access to Turkey" should be an option in such a deal if it is found in violation.

"That is completely missing in the agreement the U.K. has signed," she has said, pointing out that groups like the TUC have called for these provisions since the EU struck the original deal with Turkey back in 1995.

The full statement of the TUC, DİSK and KESK

Workers in Turkey have had to endure countless oppressive attacks on their fundamental human rights.

But the UK-Turkey deal does nothing to protect them.

The UK govt must use its leverage to demand the Turkish govt respects working people and unions.https://t.co/6DzSJVJGOh
— Trades Union Congress (@The_TUC) January 28, 2021

'Turkey among the worst 10 countries for workers'

Annually published during the International Labor Organization's (ILO) conferences, the 2020 Global Rights Index by the International Trade Unions Confederation (ITUC) has shown that Turkey is among the 10 worst countries in the world for working people.

Turkey is one of the most hostile countries in the world for trade unionists, especially since the attempted coup in 2016, according to the report.

"In a climate of fear and under the constant threat of retaliation, workers struggled to unite and form unions, while employers actively deterred any attempt to do so by firing union organizers and engaging in union-busting practices," the ITUC notes.

The report recalls the criminal case against Arzu Çerkezoğlu, the head of the Confederation of Progressive Trade Unions of Turkey (DİSK), over her criticism against the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) in 2016. She was later acquitted of charges.

It also mentions the dismissal of workers at İzmir's Aliağa District Municipality and lawsuits against the members of the Confederation of Public Employees' Unions (KESK).

Briefly about the "free trade agreement"

Turkey and the United Kingdom (UK) signed a free trade agreement on December 29, 2020 set to go into effect on January 1, 2021.

The landmark deal would ensure stronger trade between Turkey and the UK in the days to come, Minister of Trade Pekcan underlined at the online ceremony, adding that the deal left no uncertainty in the trade structure between the two countries.

"We are taking the first step towards further deepening our ties while maintaining 25-year gains from the Customs Union," said Pekcan, referring to Turkey's 1995 Customs Union with the EU, which Britain was making its final exit at the time of siganture.

Absent a deal, about 75 percent of Turkey's exports to UK would be subject to tariffs, causing losses of some 2.4 billion dollars, but the deal eliminates this risk, said Minister Pekcan, adding, "We reached a tariff-free agreement, as planned, which includes all industrial and agricultural goods."

Stating that the trade volume between the two countries hit 15.1 billion dollars in January-November 2020, Pekcan said that in 2019, Turkey's exports to the UK – its second-largest export market – stood at 11.3 billion dollars, while imports totaled 5.6 billion dollars. The UK's investments in Turkey are around 11.6 billion dollars, she added further.

'Towards a more ambitious free trade agreement'

In a statement following the signing, the UK government said that the deal covers trade worth more than £18 billion (24.3 billion USD).

"Both countries have also committed to working towards a more ambitious free trade agreement in the future, which will go further than the current deal," said the statement, adding that the vital UK-Turkey supply chains will also be protected for automotive manufacturers, such as Ford, which employs 7,500 people in the UK.

(SD)