ECONOMY - LABOR - Bianet

ECONOMY - LABOR

Page 28

Turkey's richest 20 percent has 46 percent of total income, İstanbul has highest inequality

Turkey's richest 20 percent has 46 percent of total income, İstanbul has highest inequality

The share of the poorest 20 percent slightly increased while Gini coefficient stood at 0.395, according to a TurkStat survey.

11 September 2020

Resisting mineworkers dismissed despite layoff ban

Resisting mineworkers dismissed despite layoff ban

Mineworkers in Karaman province have been dismissed after they refrained from working because of unpaid salaries.

11 September 2020

Union disputes official figures, says broad unemployment, job losses exceed 14 million

Union disputes official figures, says broad unemployment, job losses exceed 14 million

The official figures, which exclude those who receive short-time work and unpaid leave allowances, don't accurately reflect the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic, says DİSK-AR.

11 September 2020

Number of employed people drops by 2 million in Turkey in a year

Number of employed people drops by 2 million in Turkey in a year

The Turkish Statistical Institute (TurkStat) has announced the labor force statistics for June. The figures of the state agency say that the number of unemployed persons decreased by 152 thousand to 4 million 101 thousand in a year.

10 September 2020

‘It is not groundless’: Attack on Kurdish workers hits front page of humor magazine

‘It is not groundless’: Attack on Kurdish workers hits front page of humor magazine

In its front page, Turkey’s weekly humor magazine Leman has problematized some state officials’ and MPs’ attitude towards the racist attack that targeted Kurdish seasonal agricultural workers in Turkey’s western province of Sakarya.

9 September 2020

Report: Number of registered farmers in Turkey decreased by 102,000 in a year

Report: Number of registered farmers in Turkey decreased by 102,000 in a year

The number of public employees increased by 62,000 while women's employment decreased in the same period, according to a report by the TEPAV.

4 September 2020

Covid-19: Layoff ban extended for two months

Covid-19: Layoff ban extended for two months

As part of measures to curb the economic impact of the pandemic, layoffs have been banned in Turkey since March.

4 September 2020

Annual inflation is 11.77 percent, TurkStat says

Annual inflation is 11.77 percent, TurkStat says

According to the figures shared by the TurkStat for August 2020, the consumer price index has increased by 0.86 percent when compared to the previous month and by 11.77 percent when compared to the same month last year.

3 September 2020

40 miners are neither paid their wages, nor dismissed from their jobs

40 miners are neither paid their wages, nor dismissed from their jobs

Workers of a mine in Ermenek, Karaman have started a second resistance as neither their wages nor their severance are paid. “There were times when I could not even afford baby food and diapers for my child,” says Abdullah Büber, one of the miners.

1 September 2020 Hikmet Adal

TurkStat: Foreign trade deficit declines by 18.2 percent in July

TurkStat: Foreign trade deficit declines by 18.2 percent in July

The Turkish Statistical Institute has announced the foreign trade figures for July.

Turkey’s economy shrinks by 9.9 percent in the second quarter

Turkey’s economy shrinks by 9.9 percent in the second quarter

While Turkey’s economy grew by 4.4 percent in the first quarter 2020, it has shrunk by 9.9 percent in the second quarter, according to the TurkStat. The value added has decreased by 25 percent in services and 16.5 percent in industry.

‘I was appointed as a teacher with disabilities, now they say I cannot work’

‘I was appointed as a teacher with disabilities, now they say I cannot work’

Disabled teacher Ş.Ç. says, “They told me if we do not submit the documents to the Directorate of Education till August 30, my appointment will be cancelled. The degree of my disability was written in my application. They appointed me by knowing this.”

27 August 2020 Ruken Tuncel

How has white goods giant Vestel's factory become an outbreak center in Manisa?

How has white goods giant Vestel's factory become an outbreak center in Manisa?

Production lines don't allow workers to maintain physical distance, workers who were in contact with the infected ones are not tested until they show symptoms and measures are inadequate, according to doctors.

27 August 2020 Tansu Pişkin

‘State postal service in Tarsus has turned into a COVID-19 distribution center’

‘State postal service in Tarsus has turned into a COVID-19 distribution center’

CHP MP Antmen has raised concerns that while four officials of the Tarsus Postal Distribution Center have tested positive for COVID-19, the other personnel who were in contact with them are still made to work: “Does human life have no worth at all?”

‘There is no real struggle against child labor, all they do is publicity’

‘There is no real struggle against child labor, all they do is publicity’

Main opposition CHP MP Tanal, also a member of the Parliamentary Child Subcommission, was among the MPs who went to Ordu province to make observations about child labor. He has spoken to bianet about his visit and child labor in Turkey.

26 August 2020 Ayşegül Özbek

'Gas discovered by Turkey in the Black Sea is worth 60 to 70 billion dollars'

'Gas discovered by Turkey in the Black Sea is worth 60 to 70 billion dollars'

While the discovery is an important milestone for Turkey, there still a lot of work to do to extract the gas, according to Prof. Ediger.

25 August 2020 Hikmet Adal

Child worker dies after being hit by a bullet while collecting hazelnuts

Child worker dies after being hit by a bullet while collecting hazelnuts

The gendarmerie is working to find from where the shot was fired.

Dismissed Cargill workers to expand protests

Dismissed Cargill workers to expand protests

The workers have said that they will stage protests in front of the headquarters of Cargill's customer companies, including Pepsi-Co, Coca Cola and Nestle.

3 occupational homicides at the same construction site in a week

3 occupational homicides at the same construction site in a week

Syrian worker Mişo received an electric shock and lost his life while working at the quarry of a company undertaking the construction of Akçakale-Suruç beltway in Urfa. Arslan and Kaçmaz also died at the same construction site on August 16.

Consumer confidence index falls, again

Consumer confidence index falls, again

According to the Consumer Confidence Index announced by the TurkStat for August, the consumer confidence index has dropped to 59.6 percent. In July, the index also dropped when compared with the previous month.

Turkey’s Central Bank keeps policy rate constant at 8.25 percent

Turkey’s Central Bank keeps policy rate constant at 8.25 percent

The Central Bank has kept the policy rate (one-week repo auction rate) constant at its current level of 8.25 percent. Referring to the “uncertainties regarding demand conditions,” the Bank has said that “it will continue with its liquidity measures.”

Gold price per ounce is over 2,000 dollars, again

Gold price per ounce is over 2,000 dollars, again

The gold price per ounce has exceeded 2,000 US dollars again. The price of gram gold has seen 477 şira while the exchange rates of US dollar and Euro are still record high.

Cargill workers continue to demand reemployment after Covid-19 break

Cargill workers continue to demand reemployment after Covid-19 break

Fourteen Cargill workers were dismissed two-and-a-half years ago due to union activities and have not been rehired despite a court ruling.

‘Turkey is losing control of the pandemic,’ warns Turkish Thoracic Society

‘Turkey is losing control of the pandemic,’ warns Turkish Thoracic Society

In a written statement, the society has underlined that there is a serious increase in the number of coronavirus cases in Turkey, as far as it is informed by its members, and noted that “Turkey is considered to be nearing its second peak in the first wave.”

Can Turkey’s health workers survive this winter?

Can Turkey’s health workers survive this winter?

This “army” lived through March, April, May, they now go through June, July, August, without finding time to breathe, and they will enter fall-winter in pandemic conditions. Health workers’ inability to survive this winter means a disaster for public health.

17 August 2020 Eriş Bilaloğlu

Turkey’s industrial production increased by only 0.1 percent annually

Turkey’s industrial production increased by only 0.1 percent annually

According to the Industrial Production Index announced by the Turkish Statistical Institute (TurkStat) for June, Turkey’s industrial production has increased by 17.6 percent monthly while it has increased by only 0.1 percent annually.

Turkey’s Finance Minister Albayrak: What matters is not the level of exchange rate

Turkey’s Finance Minister Albayrak: What matters is not the level of exchange rate

Hosting Finance Minister Albayrak on CNN Türk, Ahmet Hakan said, “I get panicked when the exchange rate of US dollar rises. Should we be concerned,” to which Albayrak responded: “Do you get your wage in dollars?”

Health and Safety Labor Watch: At least 164 workers lost their lives in July

Health and Safety Labor Watch: At least 164 workers lost their lives in July

A total of 1,098 workers lost their lives in occupational homicides this year, according to the İSİG report.

COVID-19 in Turkey: 8 tests for ruling AKP MP, none for health worker

COVID-19 in Turkey: 8 tests for ruling AKP MP, none for health worker

In a statement released by the Health and Social Service Laborers’ Union (SES), it has been announced that health worker Davut Ak wanted to be tested for COVID-19 as he showed the symptoms; however, his request has been rejected.

Only 10 percent of the unemployed receive unemployment benefits

Only 10 percent of the unemployed receive unemployment benefits

Turkey's unemployment fund paid 401,645 people unemployment benefits last month whereas the number of unemployed in the country is nearly four million.

‘Lives of workers are more valuable than refrigerators’

‘Lives of workers are more valuable than refrigerators’

Confederation of Progressive Trade Unions of Turkey has protested coronavirus deaths in Vestel factory: “The mentality of employers and government who think ‘We will produce in all conditions’ puts workers' right to life and health at risk.”

Union: 153 Dardanel workers infected with coronavirus, 56 hospitalized

Union: 153 Dardanel workers infected with coronavirus, 56 hospitalized

Workers of a canned fish company in northwestern Turkey work during the day and are forced to stay at "quarantine dormitories" at night.

10 August 2020 Ruken Tuncel