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Construction unions slam Turkey over builder arrests

CONSTRUCTION unions across the world have condemned Turkey for the mass arrests of builders working on New Istanbul Airport.

Building and Wood Workers International (BWI) and the European Federation of Building and Wood Workers highlighted a track record of “serious accidents that have left workers dead” and voiced concern over “low wages, delayed payment of wages, unsafe working conditions, poor and substandard accommodation facilities, harassment and a series of human rights violations” at the massive building site.

The federations said of the 26,000 workers on the site that 22,000 were employed by 281 subcontractors, making it easy for the project’s management to wash their hands of abuses. This was the backdrop to confrontations that saw 24 workers arrested at the weekend, they said.

BWI general secretary Ambet Yuson said Turkish authorities should immediately release those arrested and work with union YOL-IS to ensure that outsourced workers get the “decent work, living wage” and “fundamental labour and human rights” they are entitled to.

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