They brought slavery to the workers with 3-day shifts

Belce Örü Erçin

The omnibus bill has dealt another blow to workers in the tourism sector. Tourism workers who worked six days and took a seventh day off will now be able to take one day off after working 10 days. However, the new law will prevent tourism workers from receiving a raise even if they are forced to work overtime. The new law also doesn't specify how many days it will take to make up for accumulated weeks of vacation. Members of Parliament, who had previously granted tourism workers a 10-day uninterrupted work schedule, are now working three days a week. Furthermore, with the July raise, MPs are receiving a salary of 229,676 lira.

LOSS OF RIGHTS CONTINUES

Social Security Institution (SGK) Specialist Mert Nayır explained the current problems in the sector: “The tourism sector already faces numerous problems regarding working conditions and worker rights. Cash wage and insurance payments, showing payments as minimum wage, and non-payment of overtime are among the main problems. In the last few years, we have also observed an increase in the number of uninsured Afghan and Syrian workers in the tourism sector.”

Nayır, noting that demand for domestic tourism has decreased and costs in the sector have increased due to high inflation, continued: “The inability to find Turkish workers or the disqualification of existing workers has become a very common problem. We also see regulations aimed at reducing employer costs and finding workers to work during busy periods, but instead, there should have been an incentive for insurance costs, regardless of the employee's starting date.”

Nayır stated that the increasing loss of rights will lead to a further loss of qualified personnel in the sector, saying, "The personnel department and workers will also face conflict. Another concern is that this regulation could spread to other sectors."

There is overtime, no pay

The following sentence was added to the Labor Law No. 4857: “The portion of the work performed by the worker during the weekly holiday to which he is entitled, equal to the daily normal working hours, is not taken into account in the calculation of overtime.” However, if the worker is employed during the weekly holiday, he must receive a 50 percent increase in his daily wage and use compensatory leave.

'The regulation should be withdrawn'

The regulation regarding tourism workers has drawn criticism. CHP member Sibel Suiçmez stated, "You view workers as slaves and disregard labor. You prioritize capital over workers." CHP Deputy Chair and Ankara MP Gamze Taşcıer stated, "This law, which targets the right to a weekly holiday, sets a precedent that threatens not only tourism workers but all workers." The Istanbul Bar Association also issued a statement on the matter, stating, "The weekly holiday is a fundamental right guaranteed by the Constitution and international agreements. The fait accompli regulation introduced by the omnibus bill must be withdrawn immediately."