Employees of Closed Newspapers Cannot Receive Unemployment Pay

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Kocaeli Manşet daily has been closed along with 130 other media organs by the Statutory Decree issued on July 27. 30 workers who lost their jobs cannot receive their unemployment because of not being able to obtain their leave of employment document, which is required for the unemployment pay.

Caner Aktan, an editor at the Manşet Kocaeli told bianet that police came to the building by statutory decree on the night of July 27, encircled the building and didn’t let anyone inside.

The building was searched and sealed without the employees even being given their personal belongings.

Daily owner Çiçek in custody

The concessionaire, Şenol Çiçek, who was detained on the same night, is still in custody. The employees who have lost their job without being able to receive their salaries and compensations applied to the Social Security Institution (SGK) but their applications were rejected.

Petition to the SGK and Ministry

Journalists Association of Turkey (TGS) attorney Melih Selvi said the journalists may submit a petition to the Ministry of Labor and SGK as to this matter.

Three dailies, namely Kocaeli Manşet, Bizim Kocaeli and Demokrat Gebze were shut down on July 27 only in Kocaeli, and as many as 100 workers lost their job without being able to receive their salaries and compensations. (EA/TK)