The report underlines the growing unemployment. While acknowledging that the narrowly-defined jobless number had decreased compared to last year same time to 4 million 362 thousand mark., the overall unemployment figure was at 8 million when a broader definition of the term is used.
The statistics do not reflect those who are unemployed but have not looked for a job recently. These could be classified as the “hopeless unemployed.” This category has reached the 1 million level with the recent surge of 53% increase.
The research group of the second largest labor confederation in Turkey, DISK, published its report based on the January 2020 data for employment.
The DISK-AR group analyzed the negative trend in Turkey’s economy and the effects of the COVID-19 virus outbreak. The study is based on the data published by the Turkish government’s Statistical Department, The Statistical Foundation of Turkey.
DISK is the Confederation of Progressive Labor Unions and is an independent labor organization that is known for its militancy and more left leanings.
The report underlines the growing unemployment. While acknowledging that the narrowly-defined jobless number had decreased compared to last year same time to 4 million 362 thousand mark., the overall unemployment figure was at 8 million when a broader definition of the term is used.
The statistics do not reflect those who are unemployed but have not looked for a job recently. These could be classified as the “hopeless unemployed.” This category has reached the 1 million level with the recent surge of 53% increase.
DISK also proposed several measures to fight unemployment, especially in the times of the pandemic. These include:
• During the COVID-19 pandemic no layoffs should be permitted.
• The conditions to benefit from the unemployment program should be made better.
• The unemployment fund should not be used for other reasons outside of unemployment.
• The principle of “Work less for others to work” should be implemented. The standard weekly work hours should be reduced to 37.5 hours without a loss in pay. The 270 hours of yearly overtime upper-limit should be pulled down to 90 hours.
• Following the ILO initiative of “Decent Work,” decent, safe, secure, and quality employment for everyone should be created.
• To reduce the unemployment and to increase employment for women, sexist policies should end and house work burden should be relieved from women by government’s quality, wide spread and free services.
Sendika.org news (M.B.)