At least 2,427 workers died in occupational homicides in 2020

* Photo: Pixabay

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The Health and Safety Labor Watch (İSİG Assembly) has released its annual report for 2020. The report has shown that at least 2,427 workers lost their lives in occupational homicides in 2020.

In 2019, this number was at least 1,736.

In preparing the report, the Labor Watch obtained 66 percent of the data from national press and 34 percent from the colleagues and families of workers, occupational safety specialists, workplace doctors, unions and local press. Some highlights from the report are as follows:

Distribution of occupational homicides by months

At least 114 workers lost their lives in occupational homicides in January; at least 132 workers lost their lives in February; at least 113 workers died in March; at least 223 workers in April; at least 166 workers in May; at least 190 workers in June; at least 164 workers in July; at least 218 workers in August; at least 211 workers in September; at least 232 workers in October; at least 308 workers in November; and at least 356 workers lost their lives in occupational homicides in December 2020.

83 percent were wage earners

Considered in terms of employment types, 2,023 workers were wage earners (workers and civil servants) and 404 were self-employed (farmers and shopkeepers). In other words, 83 percent of the deceased workers were wage earners while the remaining 17 percent were self-employed.

Distribution by business lines

442 laborers were working in agriculture and forestry (224 farmers and 218 workers); 355 workers in construction and road; 330 workers in healthcare and social services; 296 workers in trade, bureau, education and cinema; 248 workers in transportation; 141 workers in municipal and general affairs; 106 workers in metal; 79 workers in defense and security; 61 workers in mining; 54 workers in textile and leather; 54 workers in energy; 44 workers in food and confectionery; 44 workers in petrochemicals and plastics; 43 workers in accomodation and recreation; 26 workers in ship, dock, sea and harbor business; 23 workers in tree and paper business line; 14 workers in cement, soil and glass industries; eight workers in communications; seven workers in journalism; five workers in banking, finance and insurance. The lines of business of 47 workers were not reported.

The distribution of occupational homicides by gender was as follows in 2020: 148 women and 2,279 male workers.

Distribution by age groups

• 22 child workers at/under the age of 14,
• 46 child/young workers in 15-17 age group,
• 258 workers in 18-27 age group,
• 1,079 workers in 28-50 age group,
• 708 workers in 51-64 age group,
• 159 workers at/over the age of 65,
• 155 workers of unreported age.

Refugee workers

In 2020, 101 refugee/migrant workers lost their lives.

Their countries of origin were as follows: 48 workers from Syria, 28 workers from Afghanistan, four workers from Georgia and Uzbekistan each, two workers from Azerbaijan, Iran, Russia and Ukraine each, one worker from Bulgaria, Iraq, Nepal and Pakistan each.

While 109 (4.49 percent) of the deceased workers were unionized, the remaining 95.51 percent (2,318 workers) were not.

* Click here for the full report (in Turkish)

(AÖ/SD)