At least 14,555 workers died on the job on the 12th anniversary (November 3, 2002) of Justice and Development Party's (AKP) rule in Turkey.

According to a report by Worker Health and Occupational Security Assembly that covered the past 3 years and the rest by Turkey’s Social Security Institution (SGK), the distribution of worker casualties per year was as follows: 146 workers on the last 2 months of 2002, 811 workers in 2003, 843 workers in 2004, 1096 in 2005, 1601 workers in 2006, 1044 workers in 2007, 866 workers in 2008, 1171 workers in 2009, 1454 workers in 2010, 1710 workers in 2011, 878 workers in 2012, 1235 workers in 2013 and 1600 workers in the first 10 months of 2014.

160 workers died in October

According to a report by Worker Health and Occupational Security Assembly, at least 160 workers died on the job in October 2014.

While 27 workers were women, 4 were children and 3 were immigrants.

While worker deaths were mostly reported in agriculture and forestry sectors, most cases were traffic or shuttle service accidents.

The report also emphasized on the road security as a latest traffic accident left 18 workers dead in the central province of Isparta.

“Instead of being proud with building double lane roads, AKP government must improve the transport security conditions of workers,” the report said. (NV/BM)

* Click here to read the article in Turkish.