Two workers killed in occupational murders on same day in Turkey

While two workers in different cities in Turkey were killed on the same day, the number of occupational murders reach a stunning level: over 22,500 deaths in 16 years
Monday, 25 March 2019 11:27

Occupational murders in Turkey continue without a pause. Two workers in two different cities were killed on the same day.

A fire broke out in a paint and mineral oil warehouse in the Kartepe district of the city of Kocaeli. While the reason for the fire has not been revealed, it was claimed that the fire was started by an explosion. Support squads of firefighters were called on to the scene because of the extent of the fire. A worker was killed and two were injured.

In another occasion, Mustafa Korkmaz (52), who worked on the plastic washing line at a recycling factory in the Hendek district of Sakarya city, fell into the washing pool, getting stuck between cogwheels. Firefighters and paramedics who arrived at the factory on the call of Korkmaz’s co-workers confirmed Korkmaz’s death.

The Council of Occupational Health and Safety (İSİG) announced back in December 2018 that 1923 workers were killed last year, while 22,500 workers have been killed in the 16 years since Turkey’s ruling AKP party came to power in 2002.

İSİG also issued a report on the occupational murders in January and February 2019. The report shows that at least 284 workers in total were killed in the first two months of 2019, 159 in January and 125 in February.