15 Seasonal Workers Die, Death Toll Reaches 227 in 6 Months

A van carrying seasonal workers in Gölmarmara district of Manisa province in Western Turkey collided with milk tank. 15 seasonal workers were killed in the accident while two people were injured. 

According to report of Worker Health and Work Security Assembly, at least 794 workers died in the first half of 2015.

227 laborers were killed in car/shuttle accidents while 168 workers died in the field of agriculture and forestry according to the report.

Seasonal workers hit the road when spring comes but in the beginning of the road, death awaits them.

Last traffic accident is an example of it. 15 seasonal workers, 13 women amongst them, hit the road to pick grapes in Salihli district of Manisa province.

A van carrying seasonal workers collided with milk tank at 5.30 a.m. 15 workers were killed in the accident while 2 people were injured.

Dead bodies of 15 workers were taken to Gölmarmara State Hospital and Akhisar State Hospital.

It was determined that milk tank caused the accident.

Mayor of Gölmarmara district of Manisa, Kamil Öz from Justice and Development Party (AKP) stressed that this kind of transportation of seasonal workers shouldn’t continue and complained that highway which linked the districts together was too narrow. Mayor Öz said that 20 people were killed in traffic accident during his 16 months old mayorship. (NV/BD)

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