At least 68 workers have died at work in January. The shocking figures are pubblished in a report released by Worker Health and Work Security Assembly. The highest number of casualties were reported in mining (16), construction (15) and metal (10) sectors. Zonguldak province topped the list with 11 casualties in January, followed by Antep (10), Istanbul (6) and Izmir (4).
Writing about the 7 January mining accident in the province of Zonguldak in which 8 miners were killed, the report held Labor Ministry, Star Construction Firm and Coal Institution of Turkey responsible for it.
"The contracted mining firm, Star Construction, belongs to Nationalist Movement Party deputy Ruhsar Demirel's spouse. The other contractor, Pano Mining, belongs to Dursun Akyürek, Coal Institution of Turkey chairperson," the report said. "We have previously heard of Star Construction workers' complaints about wages and work safety. They complained that some workers even lacked gas masks. In July, they went on strike for their demands. The ministry's lack of controls even appeared on State Audit Council's reports."
The report also reminded the 30 January Galvanize Factory incident in the province of Antep where 7 workers died. "According to a statement by labor minister, Faruk Çelik, the factory was inspected twice during 2011, receiving fines due the lack of necessary precautions. Fatma Şahin, family and social policies minister, also said the incident uncovered the alien worker reality in Turkey," the report cited.
According to statistic released by Labor Ministry, 12,418 workers were reported killed at work between 2001 and 2011. Worker Health and Work Security Assembly reported that at least 878 workers were killed at work in 2012.