At least 146 died at workplace in July

The civil society network ISIG systematically records the deaths considered as “workplace murders” due to working conditions in Turkey. For the month of July, the network recorded the death of 146 workers, of whom 133 were men and 13 women. Ten of the 146 killed are minors, three of them even under the age of 13. Most of the fatalities occurred in agriculture, forestry, construction, road, transportation, trade, office, education, mining, metal processing, power supply, municipal/common work and chemical industry, and accommodation. Among those killed are 24 field workers and 21 farmers. The most common causes of death include traffic accidents, falls from heights, crush injuries, heart attacks, electrocution, explosions, burns, and violence. Most of the deaths were registered in the Istanbul region.

“COVID-19 is a disease of the working class”

The network further reports, “It has been 17 months since the first case of COVID-19 was reported in Turkey. As far as we can determine, at least 1168 workers have died from COVID-19 and tens of thousands of workers have fallen ill. Almost all of the thousands of other deaths are family members of workers and retirees, the previous generation of workers. This clearly proves that COVID-19 is a working-class disease.”

Difficult investigation of deaths

The network researches the deaths of workers from the regional, national and international press, as well as with the help of workers and safety representatives of companies and professional organizations. In July, 146 such deaths were identified. This is certainly an incomplete balance sheet, as deaths are always covered up in the informal sector, which is particularly huge in agriculture in Turkey and Northern Kurdistan.

According to ISIG’s research, a six-month balance sheet for the year 2021 looks as follows:

January: 203

February: 142

March: 144

April: 257

May: 236

June: 173

July: 146

Thus, at least 1301 workers have been killed by working conditions in Turkey and Northern Kurdistan this year.