content tagged with labor

Two workers trapped in Ordu quarry collapse

Two workers trapped in Ordu quarry collapse

Explosives had been detonated at the site earlier in the day. It remains unclear whether the collapse was linked to the detonation.

5 November 2025

One worker killed, four injured in İstanbul shipyard explosion

One worker killed, four injured in İstanbul shipyard explosion

The incident occurred during maintenance work.

16 October 2025

Unions to abstain from 2026 minimum wage negotiations

Unions to abstain from 2026 minimum wage negotiations

Two major labor confederations will boycott talks on setting Turkey’s 2026 minimum wage, citing government dominance in the process.

29 September 2025

Sakarya pasta factory explosion: Owners escape trial, employees sentenced to prison, no one left in jail

Sakarya pasta factory explosion: Owners escape trial, employees sentenced to prison, no one left in jail

Six factory employees have received prison sentences in the case where no owner or board member stood trial.

25 September 2025

Syrian refugee worker killed after fall at construction site in Antalya

Syrian refugee worker killed after fall at construction site in Antalya

Molla Muhammed died after falling from a height of about four meters.

4 September 2025

'No job description, everyone does everything': Precarious conditions strain supermarket workers

'No job description, everyone does everything': Precarious conditions strain supermarket workers

"After work, I often find myself thinking, 'I wish I didn’t have to go to work tomorrow.' I’m not planning to stay here long. I’m only working to support myself and help my family," says a worker.

22 August 2025 Sema Öcal

Seventeen textile workers dismissed after union membership in Dersim

Seventeen textile workers dismissed after union membership in Dersim

The workers are protesting the employee, demanding their reinstatement and the recognition of union rights.

13 August 2025 Sema Öcal

Erdoğan 'postpones' mine workers' strike, bringing his tally to 22

Erdoğan 'postpones' mine workers' strike, bringing his tally to 22

The president cited national security concerns for the move.

Akkuyu nuclear plant workers face harsh gendarmerie response during wage protest

Akkuyu nuclear plant workers face harsh gendarmerie response during wage protest

The workers, both Turkish and Russian nationals, have reportedly gone unpaid for the past three months.

Factory owner claims to be a victim in trial over deadly fireworks blast

Factory owner claims to be a victim in trial over deadly fireworks blast

The owner was initially sentenced to prison on charges related to negligence, but the top appeals court ruled that the charges should reflect "probable intent."

Turkey enacts law allowing 10 consecutive workdays for tourism workers

Turkey enacts law allowing 10 consecutive workdays for tourism workers

The required number of consecutive workdays before a weekly rest in the tourism sector has increased from six to ten. Union leader Gökhan Aslan says the law will lead to "unlimited exploitation."

14 July 2025 Hikmet Adal

Erdoğan signs decree to further increase non-benefit spending from unemployment fund

Erdoğan signs decree to further increase non-benefit spending from unemployment fund

Labor unions and opposition parties have long criticized the use of te unemployment fund, arguing that the fund’s primary purpose is being compromised by the diversion of resources to employer-oriented subsidies.

At least 164 workers killed on the job in June as six-month toll nears 1,000

At least 164 workers killed on the job in June as six-month toll nears 1,000

Industry accounted for the highest number of deaths last month, followed by construction, services, and agriculture.

Turkey’s unemployment rate at 8.4% in May

Turkey’s unemployment rate at 8.4% in May

Broadly defined unemployment, which includes time-related underemployment, potential labor force, and the unemployed, fell by 1.1 percentage points to 31%.

Former Çalık Holding worker beaten to death by bodyguards over unpaid compensation dispute

Former Çalık Holding worker beaten to death by bodyguards over unpaid compensation dispute

Unions protested the holding, which claims the worker, Erol Eğrek, had received his compensation.

'Seafarers in danger, the US and Israel are bombing Yemen'

'Seafarers in danger, the US and Israel are bombing Yemen'

Condemning the Israeli occupation of Palestine and the US support for Israel, the Maritime Workers Platform has warned that the US is now attacking Yemen.

6 May 2025 Evrim Gündüz

'They pay Mourinho millions': Workers at Fenerbahçe president’s oil company escalate wage protests

'They pay Mourinho millions': Workers at Fenerbahçe president’s oil company escalate wage protests

Tüpraş workers have been protesting since the failure of collective bargaining talks on Apr 21 and are now staging full-day work stoppages.

Thousands of workers stop work at Turkey’s largest oil refinery

Thousands of workers stop work at Turkey’s largest oil refinery

Workers stopped work for two hours at Tüpraş refineries after 13 rounds of collective bargaining negotiations failed to produce an agreement.

Hospital construction workers occupy entrance of contractor's HQ

Hospital construction workers occupy entrance of contractor's HQ

Workers accuse the company of withholding wages and stage a week-long protest at the company’s İstanbul office.

'A hub of labor violations': İstanbul shipyard workers climb crane protesting unpaid wages

'A hub of labor violations': İstanbul shipyard workers climb crane protesting unpaid wages

The workers highlight unlawful practices by employers, such as misreporting their wages as minimum wage and falsely classifying dismissed workers as "resigned." They claim the government turns a blidn eye to these violations.

14 March 2025 Ali Dinç

Mehmet Türkmen: A union leader behind bars after years of struggle

Mehmet Türkmen: A union leader behind bars after years of struggle

Türkmen, who has led textile workers' resistance in Antep, was arrested last month.

Company manager sentenced for obstructing union rights

Company manager sentenced for obstructing union rights

A biogas company executive was sentenced to prison, but the sentence was later converted into a monetary fine.

3 March 2025 Hikmet Adal

Diyar Saraçoğlu

'Traditional unions struggle to understand tech sector'

Q&A WITH SIMONE ROBUTTI OF TECH WORKERS COALITION

'Traditional unions struggle to understand tech sector'

"Ultimately, tech organizing is still evolving, with workers adapting traditional methods to the unique challenges of the industry."

26 February 2025 Diyar Saraçoğlu

Union leader arrested amid Antep labor protests

Union leader arrested amid Antep labor protests

Mehmet Türkmen's arrest comes amid protests by textile workers in Antep over disputes regarding low wage increases.

17 February 2025

Thousands of KFC, Pizza Hut workers in Turkey unpaid amid debt restructuring

Thousands of KFC, Pizza Hut workers in Turkey unpaid amid debt restructuring

Workers have started protests in various cities demanding their receivables.

11 February 2025 Abbas Vural

Share of working class in Turkey’s population grows over 50 years while unionization declines

Share of working class in Turkey’s population grows over 50 years while unionization declines

According to the latest statistics, the number of registered workers in Turkey reached 16 million in 2024. Including unregistered labor, the total workforce in the 2020s is estimated to be around 22-24 million, making up nearly 28% of the population. However, the unionization rate has dropped to half of its 1970s level of 25-30%, now standing at 15%.

29 January 2025

Metal workers defy Erdoğan’s strike ban after failed negotiations

Metal workers defy Erdoğan’s strike ban after failed negotiations

About 1,500 workers working at several factories continue their strike despite a presidential decree.

16 December 2024

Miners on hunger strike protesting layoffs detained in Ankara

Miners on hunger strike protesting layoffs detained in Ankara

The mining company owned by a ruling party MP laid off dozens of workers after they unionized. The workers have been protesting since then.

16 October 2024

Layoffs, workplace harassment follow deadly explosion at Sakarya pasta factory

Layoffs, workplace harassment follow deadly explosion at Sakarya pasta factory

Five workers were killed in the September explosion in the factory in northwestern Turkey. While an investigation into the incident is still underway, the Oba Makarna company has reportedly downsized its quality control department and workers are facing implicit blame for the blast.

15 October 2024 Hikmet Adal

Are couriers dangerous, or is the courier profession itself?

Are couriers dangerous, or is the courier profession itself?

By disregarding the principle of objectivity and honesty in journalism, associating couriers only with negative incidents and treating isolated cases as if they were widespread could create deep distrust in society toward the motorcycle courier profession and those who work in it.

29 September 2024 Mesut Çeki

Construction workers' strike in Tanzania ends with gains

Construction workers' strike in Tanzania ends with gains

Workers of a Turkey-based company had been on a strike in Tanzania for two weeks for their unpaid wages.

18 August 2023 Vecih Cuzdan,Ali Dinç

182 workers killed on the job in July

182 workers killed on the job in July

At least 1051 workers were killed on the job in the first seven months of 2023.

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