The report shows that at least 15 workers in 2013; 25 workers in 2014; 59 workers in 2014; 89 in 2016; 73 in 2018; 80 workers in 2019; and at least 75 workers in 2020 committed suicide either at their workplaces or outside but because of work-related issues. The report also shows a steady increase in the workers’ suicides due to work-related problems.
Workers Health and Work Safety Assembly in Turkey published two studies on suicides among workers. The statistics kept by the institutions captured only partial data on the subject as the wording “at least” shows that the actual figures are much larger.
If a worker commits suicide at the workplace, it is considered an occupational murder. However, not a single suicide was investigated with this charge in Turkey. That is why the suicides at or outside the workplace were combined in the published report.
The report shows that at least 15 workers in 2013; 25 workers in 2014; 59 workers in 2014; 89 in 2016; 73 in 2018; 80 workers in 2019; and at least 75 workers in 2020 committed suicide either at their workplaces or outside but because of work-related issues. The report also shows a steady increase in the workers’ suicides due to work-related problems.
The wage workers, including office personnel, are the highest group with 302 of the 501 suicides.
21 Farmers and 111 self-employed workers make up the second-largest group.
Sixty-eight workers committed suicides because they were denied jobs, like the teachers.
The reasons for suicide varies with 127 killing themselves for the debt they owed. Sixty-eight died due to unemployment, while 53 killed themselves for harassment at work or management pressure. The reason for the rest of the 254 suicides is unknown.
Separating the age groups reveal that six workers were between 15 to 17 years old. Most workers who ended their lives were in the group of 28 to 50 years.
Sendika.org News (MB)