‘No to subcontracting’ protest held in Istanbul

ISTANBUL/İZMİR

DHA Photo

A demonstration against Turkey’s growing “subcontracting” system of employment was held in Istanbul on May 25, as members of unions and a number of political figures marched to the central square in the Kadıköy district. 

Members of the Confederation of Progressive Trade Unions (DİSK), the Confederation of Turkish Trade Unions (Türk-İş), the Confederation of Public Sector Trade Unions (KESK), the Chamber of Architects and Engineers’ (TMMOB) and the Turkish Doctors’ Union (TTB) attended the protest.

The groups carried posters reading “Don’t forget Soma” and “Subcontracting is murder,” while the names of the workers who killed in the deadly mining disaster on May 13 were read out. Coffins covered in black fabric representing the 301 workers who died in Soma were also carried.

The “subcontracting” (“taşeron” in Turkish) system has particularly grown in Turkey in recent years, allowing companies to bypass costs and legal responsibilities associated with labor regulations by subcontracting their workforce to middlemen. Many of the miners in Soma were employed through this system.

Meanwhile, Family and Social Policies Minister Ayşenur İslam told journalists in Soma on May 25 that her ministry was continuing its work to assist families of the victims of the tragedy.

The ministry has visited all the families’ houses to determine their needs and provide support for their psychological and physical health, İslam said, adding that a monthly allowance would start to be distributed to the families of deceased workers in June.

She also went to the Aegean province of İzmir, where she visited two families of workers who died in the Soma accident.

İslam also sought to assure families that all those responsible for the disaster would be held accountable.