Istanbul 1 May Platform celebrated the Labor Day in front of the PTT building in Sirkeci, in the borough of Fatih.

Representatives of some political parties, unions and civil society organizations attended the celebration which observed social distance as dictated by the measures to counter the coronavirus pandemic. A banner reading 'Hunger at home, pandemic at work, down with capitalism' was unfurled by the group.

Confederation of Public Workers Unions (KESK) Istanbul Branch Spokesperson Ayfer Koçak stated that the coronavirus pandemic spreading all over the world reveals the capitalist exploitation in all its nakedness.

Emphasizing that capitalism is in a deep economic crisis worldwide, Koçak said: "People continue to work in factories, construction, with the fear of being exposed to the pandemic at any time. Many of our workers lost their lives because of the coronavirus."

Koçak called on workers to voice their demands at the squares, neighborhoods, streets, balconies and workplaces on 1 May.

Koçak listed the demands as follows:

* All resources should be mobilized towards public health.

* Dismissal and unpaid leaves must be banned, and all employees must be on paid leave.

* In sectors where work is compulsory, measures should be taken under the supervision of physicians to protect workers from the pandemic.

* All bills must be covered by the state during the pandemic.

* Unregistered workers and laborers, who have no income at the moment and who are on unpaid leaves hould be guaranteed a minimum wage. 

* All hospitals should be nationalised.

* The necessary resources for the protection of the society against the pandemic should be covered by the capital class and the wealth tax should be put on rent. The use of this resource should be open to public control.

* Political pressures, discrimination in the Law on Execution, ongoing trustee policies and the obstruction to the work of municipalities must end.

Koçak said: "Capitalism kills, not the virus."