Health and Safety Labour Watch (İSİG) has released its monthly report on workplace deaths in Turkey. According to the report, at least 249 workers lost their lives in April this year, whilst at least 735 workers lost their lives in the first four months of this year alone, Mesopotamia News Agency reports.
In the figures for deaths in April, 19 people were women, 230 were men and the workplace deaths of women took place mostly in the agricultural, trade, education, healthcare and municipal affairs sectors.
Eight child workers died whilst working in the agriculture, construction and accommodation industries in April 2021. Ninety five workers aged 51 or over died and 11 migrant/refugee workers died, the report reveals.
It was stated that the most common causes of death were related to Covid 19 or being crushed/trapped under debris, traffic accidents, falling from heights and drowning.
State supported the bosses during the pandemic
According to research that was conducted by the Revolutionary Trade Unions Confederation Research Centre (DİSK-AR), 23 billion Turkish Lira (TL) was transferred to employers during the pandemic. However, only 11 billion TL in ‘cash wage support’ was paid to 2.6 million workers in Turkey.
According to the 2020 Report of the International Trade Union Confederation, Turkey is among the 10 worst countries to live in, for workers.