1,255 workers lost their lives in the first eight months of 2023

The Occupational Safety and Health Council (İSİG) announced the “Occupational Homicide Report” for the first 8 months of 2023.

According to the report; In August 2023, 201 more workers lost their lives in workplace murders, and the number of workers who died in the first 8 months of the year reached 1,255.

İSİG noted that poverty increases workplace homicides and said: “Today, the minimum wage has become the average wage of the majority of Turkey’s working class. Business turnover and profits are breaking records. “In every branch of business and city, employers increase their profits, and this situation is based on the axis of impoverishment, workerization and precarious employment,” he stated.

İSİG announced the causes of death of the workers who died in August as follows:

“52 workers due to traffic and service accidents; 25 workers due to falling from a height; 25 workers due to electric shock; 24 workers due to crushing and collapse; 24 workers due to heart attack, cerebral hemorrhage; 10 workers due to explosion and fire; 10 workers for violence; 6 workers due to poisoning, drowning; 5 workers by suicide; 3 workers due to object impact or fall; 3 workers due to cuts and breaks; 14 workers died from other causes.

In particular, traffic/service accidents in transportation and agriculture, falls from height in construction, electric shocks in energy and construction, heart attacks and brain hemorrhages are observed in all lines of work due to working conditions (hot work, excessive, intensive work and overtime). ) and crushing due to the use of tractors in agriculture: “It’s coming out.”

WORKING CHILDREN ALSO DIED

İSİG announced that there were child workers among those who died in August, saying: “4 child workers aged 14 and under, 6 child/youth workers aged 15-17, 39 workers aged 18-29, 82 workers aged 30 and 49 years old, 82 workers between 50 and 64 years old. 49 workers between 65 and over, 9 workers between 65 and over and 12 workers whose ages we do not know lost their lives. Our children die in the industrial, construction and service sectors, especially in agriculture. At least 40 child workers lost their lives this year, 18 of whom were 14 years old or younger. “Let us also underline the increase in deaths of workers over 60 years of age, especially in agriculture, construction and transport.”

İSİG included the following determinations in its briefing note on occupational homicide data:

“We are experiencing a process of impoverishment that began in 2018 but that has been felt in our bones since the fall of 2021. Especially food prices, rents, transportation, natural gas-electricity-water-telephone-internet bills, education expenses and health, etc. It increases much more than our salary. In this process, the State announces the minimum wage based on TÜİK and this determines the general wages. However, our salaries are melting day by day, as TÜİK has been wreaking havoc for a long time, such as the SSI showing worker deaths far below reality. We can’t get along!

On the other hand, the number of employees who work from home to make ends meet is increasing. We are trying to survive with children who begin to work alongside men and women, family solidarity (living in the same house, neighborhood, relationships with the people) and additional income. The entire society becomes hard-working and hard-working again! At this point, occupational health and safety (OSH/labor protection) issues, which are our area of ​​struggle, are on the rise.

Homicides, injuries, disabilities, occupational diseases and the unregulated exploitation of children, women, the elderly and immigrants are worsening. We literally live in a regime of occupational murder. On the other hand, workers are excluded from urban life, while the destruction and plundering of nature, water, food, etc. becomes widespread. New crises await at our door.

‘FOR THE BOSS’S PROFITS’

Today, the minimum wage has become the average wage for the majority of the Turkish working class. Business turnover and profits are breaking records. In every branch of business and city, bosses increase their profits, and this situation is based on the axis of impoverishment, workerization and precarious employment. The State and capital manage this process from childhood, both at school and in the workplace, with religious rules, relations between religion and sects and, when necessary, through pressure and force. Precisely at this point, the struggle on SST can be a fundamental tool to strengthen the unity and points of resistance of the working class.

In the grip of the regime of impoverishment, workerization and occupational murders, the fight on OSH will guarantee the health and safety of workers, especially the prevention of occupational murders in the coming period, a decent wage, safe work against excesses, intensive, redundant, subcontracting and all types of flexible employment and dismissal attacks. Titles such as food, housing, transportation and the right to a liveable city-environment, the protection of children, women, the elderly and immigrant labor are discussed at the national, regional, sectoral level, etc. “They must put it in the foreground at all levels and recreate its demands and tools in the fight.” (PHOENIX)