Inmates in open prisons to be trained: Salaries reach 150,000 TL, but there are no workers

The construction sector, a locomotive of the Turkish economy, entered a more intensive period following the earthquake disaster on February 6, 2023. However, a shortage of personnel to work on construction projects, both in the earthquake zone and in other locations, has emerged.

Despite monthly wages ranging from a minimum of 70,000 to a maximum of 150,000 Turkish Lira, industry representatives report that they are struggling to find qualified construction workers. The disappearance of the master-apprentice relationship in many trades, such as formwork, tower crane operation, electrical, plumbing, plastering, and painting, has led to significant staffing shortages.

Furthermore, the tendency of families to steer their children only toward professions like law, medicine, or teaching has resulted in a lack of intermediate personnel across many sectors.

Speaking on the subject, contractor Savaş Yükselyalçın stated that the shortage of personnel also impacts construction costs, noting, "We currently cannot find intermediate staff. We have a very serious need. Transfers between construction sites have also stalled.

Unfortunately, due to the education system, everyone has become a white-collar worker. Because there is no master-apprentice relationship coming up from behind, we cannot bridge this intermediate staff gap. There is a need for technical intermediate staff such as painters, formworkers, plumbers, and plasterers," he said.

Emphasizing that monthly salaries in construction range between 70 thousand and 150 thousand liras, Yükselyalçın stated, "No matter how much we pay, we cannot meet our needs. We make reservations for master craftsmen, but some do not keep their word.

Because there is demand from everyone. They go to the firm that offers a higher price. The short-term solution to the problem is that we need to bring in temporary, registered workers from the Philippines, India, and Africa. We need to send the workers back when their job is finished," he said.

On the other hand, contractor Savaş Yükselyalçın, explaining that families should send their children to vocational high schools to address the staffing shortages experienced in many sectors, stated, "We need to return to the old-school apprentice, journeyman, and master relationships.

Currently, some construction workers earn higher salaries than police officers, engineers, doctors, and prosecutors. Families should realize this. These professions should not be forgotten," he said.