Eight workers, one of whom is reported to be Syrian, have died early Wednesday as a result of a blast in the acid tank of a galvanization plant in the southeastern province of Antep. The explosion is believed to have occurred because of negligence.

Speaking to ANF about the incident, DISK (Confederation of Progressive Trade Unions of Turkey) Antep Representative Nihat Necai Bencan said workers of the mentioned factory were subject to slavery conditions. “According to the information we received, the factory had been employing illegal workers, like two Syrian workers of whom one died and the other wounded in the blast today. These people were working uninsured and informally”.

Bencan said that the death of workers in Antep was caused by the lack of measures by the employer and the lack of supervision by the state, and reminded of earlier blasts in factories lacking in required safety conditions for workers.

Bencan noted that authorities deny them access to information about casualties and said this was because they tried to hide the reality of the informal employment at the factory.

DISK Antep Representative stated that 13 of the 20 wounded people are still facing a critical situation, and that two workers are still missing.  

DISK President Erol Ekici said the present working conditions in the Organized Industrial Site could lead to further accidents and deaths with no measures being taken to prevent work accidents. Ekici noted that the AKP government is responsible for the killings of workers because of the lack of required inspections and  measures and its impositions which leave the workers alone and unorganized and those responsible for their deaths unpunished.