HDP (Peoples' Democratic Party) Labour commission spokesperson and deputy co-chair Şaziye Köse reminded the massacre of Soma mine six years ago.

 

Köse said in a written statement: "301 miners lost their life in Turkey's biggest workplace massacre six years ago. As a result of the fire that broke out in a mine belonging to Soma Holding on 13 May 2014, some 800 workers were trapped in the mine. 301 miners were killed and 486 workers were injured."

 

Köse reminded that although 6 years have passed since the disaster in Soma, work-related deaths remain "the most serious and most crucial problem in the country" because of "lack of control, lack of safety measures, imprudence, combined with employers' criminal irresponsibility."

 

The statement continued : "The courts' attitude towards the employer actually gives legitimacy to work murders because the interests of the employer and the company are held above human life. In fact, the Soma's massacre responsible have been rewarded with the Law of Execution and will be released.

 

According to official statistics, more than 22,000 workers died during the AKP ruling. 

 

Köse said: "As the economic crisis deepens, there is a serious increase in deaths in the workplace. Calls to stay at home due to the coronavirus pandemic actually have increased the risk of death, as many workers are literally left to die for the sake of production."

 

Köse added: "The demands of the unions of the mining sector should be taken into consideration; safety measures, regulations, inspections. Production should be interrupted in all mines that are not essentials during the pandemic. Workers' livelihoods should be secured without loss of rights. Dismissal should be prohibited. In the mines where compulsory work is performed, the 3 shift systems should be changed according to the situation of the coronavirus outbreak, to allow 5-6 shifts. Protective equipment should be provided without restrictions."