Internship and apprenticeship victims hold rally in Ankara
Members of the Internship and Apprenticeship Insurance Victims Federation organized rallies in many provinces across Turkey, demanding that their internship start dates be counted toward their retirement.
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Representatives from various provinces also attended the rally held in Ankara. Federation members who traveled to the capital from different cities for the Great Ankara Meeting gathered at Anıtpark.
THEY TOOK TO THE SQUARES WITH BANNERS AND SIGNS
Federation members, who arrived at the rally singing folk songs and anthems, carried signs with slogans such as "Let Internship and Apprenticeship Be the Start of Social Security," "End the Internship Grievance," and "Internship and Apprenticeship Is Actual Work."
In his speech at Anıtpark, Federation President Murat Bal demanded a legal amendment to the Vocational Education Law No. 3308, the resolution of grievances by counting insurance start dates toward retirement, and the granting of personal rights arising from labor.
Bal added that they expect their problems to be solved before the local elections to be held on March 31.
"WE SUFFERED WORK ACCIDENTS AND LOST LIVES WHILE ACTUALLY WORKING"
Federation President Murat Bal reminded that apprenticeship and internship periods are not considered actual working periods, yet there were deaths and injuries due to accidents that occurred during these times, stating, "They said we didn't have a service contract. They said we weren't actually working. We suffered these accidents and lost lives while we were actually working."
Bal stated that it is a violation of rights for interns to be considered students rather than workers, even though they go to work 5 days a week and to school 1 day a week.