BOSSES at a flagship Istanbul airport construction site were accused of covering up workplace deaths this weekend after an unidentified body was discovered in a manhole by Nepalese workers.

The grim discovery was made during cleaning operations with suggestions the body had been there for three days after falling into the drain. 

Turkish health and safety body ISIG said the latest incident brought the official total number of deaths on the site to 38 since work began on Istanbul’s third airport in 2015. 

Many suggest the real figure is much higher, with allegations that the families of some of those who have died on site were paid up to $100,000 in hush money as part of a cover-up.

An ISIG statement said: “A dead man was found in a manhole by Nepalese workers while they were cleaning. It is estimated that the man died three days ago. Nobody knows the man’s identity.

“The company is covering up the death. The details came from trade unionists on site.”

A DISK trade union official told the Star that they were trying to confirm details of the death and the man’s identity, adding that the company had not denied it.

The race to finish the project by the October 29 deadline has seen health and safety concerns ignored as workplace injuries and deaths continue.

Conditions were described to the Star as “like a nazi concentration camp,” with construction workers watched over by police and security forces following a strike last month.

Workers complained of fleas and bed bugs in their dormitories, maggot-infested food and a lack of safety equipment.  Around 2,000 workers walked out after bosses refused to meet their demands, including safe working practices, clean accommodation and decent food.

Airport management called in security forces who water-cannoned and tear-gassed the workers. The following day bosses gave a list to the notorious gendarmes who kicked down doors in the middle of the night to arrest 500 workers involved in the strike.

They have been branded terrorists for trying to enforce their basic labour rights and 24 have been jailed for taking action.

Construction workers union Dev Yapi-Is president Ozgur Karabulut was arrested on October 5 and charged with “resisting the fulfilment of duty,” violating the freedom of work and labour, damaging public property and attending meetings and marches with weapons.”

The union is calling for cards to be sent to jailed workers as a gesture of solidarity. 

They can be posted to: DISK trade union, Eren Sokak No 4, Besiktas, Turkey.