BOSSES were accused of covering up “murders” at the controversial Istanbul Grand Airport (IGA) construction site as a worker remained in critical condition after falling from a building yesterday.

He was rushed to hospital in an ambulance as trade unionists told management at the IGA project that the “workplace accidents” were unnecessary and avoidable.

Falling from heights is the most common type of workplace incident in the construction industry, the Dev Yapi-Is union warned, accusing bosses of failing to take precautions in order to keep costs low and boost their profits.

“It’s nothing short of murder,” the union said.

At least 38 people have been killed on the site since work began in 2015 according to official figures from Turkey’s health and safety body ISIG. 

However workers warn that the real figure is much higher and accused the government of colluding with bosses in covering up workplace deaths by offering “hush money” to the victims’ families.

Last month thousands were tear-gassed after they walked out in protest at poor working conditions with 500 arrested in night-time raids after bosses gave a list of names to Turkish security services.

On Saturday, Nepalese workers found a dead body in a drain during cleaning operations, which is believed to have been there for at least three days.

Today around 100 workers for the DSG contractor walked out having not been paid since August as Turkey’s economic crisis deepens.

Hundreds attended a protest over workplace deaths and the alleged bosses’ cover-up in Istanbul today with Dev Yapi-Is general secretary Nihat Demir telling those gathered that bosses “tried to cover up instead of preventing the murders.”

Supporters are being asked to send cards in solidarity with those arrested to Dev Yapi-Is President Ozgur Karabulut, who was arrested earlier this month, to:

Ozgur Karabulut
9 No’lu
Hapishane
Silivri Ceza Infaz Kurumlari
Kapmusu
Semizkumlar Mahallesi 34570
ISTANBUL