Some 400 workers employed in the construction of Ilýsu Dam in Hasankeyf (province of Batman) had begun a strike to demand changes in working conditions, inadequate wages and social rights. Constructor Company Cengiz Nurol unilaterally cancelled the labor contract of tens of workers on the grounds of organizing workers. The construction site was surrounded and blockaded by security forces when resisting workers did not leave the construction area.

The workers of Ilýsu Dam, which will submerge about hundreds of ecological areas including Hasankeyf ancient city, hundreds of villages and the Dicle valley, began a resistance act to protest against heavy working circumstances and injustice.  

Following the dismissal of the workers’ spokesman who had talks with the representatives of the workplace for months concerning the amendment of wages and social rights, workers quit the work and started a resistance act.

With the beginning of the resistance, constructor company Cengiz Nurol executives dismissed tens of workers on the grounds of organizing the workers of the dam.

Security officers blockaded the construction site where workers, not leaving the area,  gathered to show reaction against unfair practices.

Making a statement on the developments, worker E.O. remarked that the dam workers are aggrieved because of aggravated working circumstances and low wages.

The statement continued as follows; “We are paid TL 900 for 11-hour labor force a day. We demanded a raise but it was not accepted. When we made a work stoppage for one day, we were promised to get a raise but this morning we learned that some of our workmates were given non-paid leave and our spokesman Ahmet was dismissed from employment. So, we started a resistance to demand our spokesman’s back to work”.

While the strike action of workers continues, company authorities had the construction area blockaded by security forces.

Translation: Berna Ozgencil