By This post is also available in: ΕΛΛΗΝΙΚΑ (GREEK) TÜRKÇE (TURKISH)
May Day is when we salute the struggle of labour and workers around the world, acknowledging their dignity and rights. However, rather than celebrating this day, we are compelled to discuss the growing injustices, deepening poverty and devaluation of labour in the north of Cyprus.
Because here, being a worker is becoming more difficult by the day. Poverty is rising, the principles of the rule of law are eroding, and democracy is giving way to arbitrary rule. All of these are not merely abstract political debates; they are realities that directly affect our lives, working conditions, and rights, and we are faced with them on an everyday basis.
Poverty: Not Only an Economic Problem
Poverty experienced in the north of Cyprus in recent years cannot be explained solely by currency fluctuations, or economic crises. Poverty is a direct result of the lack of democracy, the violation of the rule of law, the normalization of lawlessness, and the disregard for justice.
In a society where there is no justice and equality, poverty is not merely an economic deficit. It is also a reflection of the absence of a mechanism to defend the rights and freedoms of that society, the state’s evasion of its responsibilities, and the disregard for human dignity. The further we deviate from the principle of the rule of law, the more impossible it becomes to distribute resources fairly. When this happens, corruption becomes the norm.
Looking at recent events at the Binboğa Feed Factory [Editor’s note: A local animal feed factory that recently shut down], which led to the cessation of production, and the reports that have emerged, it is clear how dire the situation is. Arbitrary management leads to the non-transparent distribution of public resources, the collapse of social justice, and the deepening of poverty. Of course, this is not limited to a single workplace. Lawlessness and corruption, which have infiltrated almost every area, are primarily devastating to the rights of workers.
On the other hand, as of the beginning of April, the poverty line for a family of four is 28,324 Turkish lira, while the minimum wage is still 37,818 Turkish lira. This situation clearly demonstrates that the value of labour is gradually going down and that workers are pushed to struggle, merely to survive. The minimum wage is insufficient not only to make ends meet but also to live a decent life. This is a concrete example of the systematic deepening of poverty and the institutionalised exploitation of labour. Workers and labourers have been pushed to a point where they cannot even access the most basic rights guaranteed by the constitution in the public sphere.
Simply increasing the minimum wage without implementing any policies to reduce the high cost of living is nothing more than a show. Indeed, we have been confronted with this reality over and over in recent years.
The Cost of Disengaging from International Law: Unprotected Labour
The unresolved Cyprus problem and disengagement from international law are exacting a heavy toll not only in diplomatic terms but also in terms of job security, human rights, and labour rights. The disregard of universal human rights documents, International Labour Organisation (ILO) standards and regional job security mechanisms has led to the spread of informal employment, the elimination of trade union rights, and heightened job insecurity.
Today, the percentage of unionised workers in the private sector has fallen below 5%. Collective labour agreements are either not concluded, or not implemented in most sectors. Meanwhile, the situation of informal workers is nothing short of a human rights scandal. Migrant workers are employed without social security, paid insufficient wages, exposed to human trafficking, and face the threat of deportation when they attempt to assert their rights. The departure from international law is evident not only in Cyprus’s foreign relations but also in these serious violations against workers.
This situation not only leads to deepening poverty but also poses a serious threat to the democratic rights and freedom of people. If labour and rights are not protected, it will be impossible to talk about social justice and equality in society.
Workplace ‘Accidents’: Preventable Murders
Workplace ‘accidents’ have reached serious levels compared to previous years. Since these accidents usually become news when they result in death, we do not have much information about injuries. Experts say that the numbers are much higher when unregistered workers are taken into account. Every workplace accident is not actually an ‘accident’, but a preventable murder. Inadequate safety measures in the workplace, lack of supervision and insufficient investment in occupational health make these deaths and injuries inevitable.
Workplace accidents are the direct result of a failure to take precautions, inadequate supervision, language barriers to training and safety measures that exist only on paper. Therefore, it is irresponsibility and negligence that underly every fatal incident. Calling these ‘accidents’ is nothing more than an attempt to evade responsibility.
In a society where labour is not protected and workers’ rights are disregarded, it is impossible to protect the right of workers to life.
In Defence of Labour
May Day is not only a day to highlight our demands, but also a day to fight for the rights of labour and workers. The impoverishment, informal work, ‘accidents’ and union busting we are experiencing today are the result of the violation of our fundamental rights and the absence of justice in society.
A decent life, safe work conditions, fair wages and social security are not privileges, but fundamental rights. These rights can only be protected by fighting together, defending our rights and standing up for each other. Therefore, it is crucial to assess the situation we find ourselves in today, 100 years after the first May Day celebrated together by the communities on the island of Cyprus, in all its dimensions, and to reignite the labour struggle in a way that encompasses the entire society, despite all our differences. ‘Building a Cyprus for labourers’ is in our hands.
This article was originally published on 29.04.2025
Source: THE TURKISH CYPRIOT COMMUNITY SQUEEZED BETWEEN FORCES OF LABOUR, POVERTY AND INJUSTICE
