Union of Private Employees in İskeçe calls for heatwave protection measures
The Union of Private and Retail Employees of İskeçe has issued a statement ahead of the upcoming heatwave, urging employers to implement immediate protective measures for workers in high-temperature environments, such as supermarkets, warehouses, and department stores.
The union highlights ongoing issues faced by workers, including malfunctioning or absent air conditioning, inadequate break areas, and limited access to drinking water. It also criticizes the ineffective implementation of Ministry of Labor guidelines and the insufficient inspections due to understaffed supervisory agencies.
The announcement includes several specific demands:
- Suspension of unloading and outdoor work when temperatures exceed 38°C.
- Paid leave for high-risk worker groups.
- Frequent breaks and reduced physical workload during peak heat hours.
- Availability of cool drinking water near workstations.
- Establishment of air-conditioned rest areas.
- Comprehensive risk assessments conducted by occupational physicians and safety technicians.
The union encourages workers to report unsafe conditions and noted a recent successful intervention that led to the suspension of operations at a construction site where heat conditions were deemed hazardous.
