May 1st message from President Erdoğan: We will never allow our workers' rights to be violated

Erdoğan stated, "I congratulate all our worker brothers and sisters on the May 1st Labor and Solidarity Day in advance. I am a brother of yours who started life with the title of worker. I would like to express in particular that I also see May 1st as my own holiday.

You know best the importance that both I personally and our government place on labor and ensuring that labor receives the reward it deserves. Throughout our 23 years in power, we have always stood by our worker brothers and sisters and their representatives. We have implemented, in unity and solidarity with you, issues that were exploited for years and ignored or overlooked by governments for years.

We expanded union rights, removed obstacles to organizing, strengthened the collective bargaining system, increased the bargaining power of our employees, implemented historic regulations in the field of occupational health and safety, granted collective bargaining rights to our public servants, and strengthened the rights and freedoms of women, the disabled, and other vulnerable groups in working life.

While doing all this, we never acted unilaterally. We always consulted with you, that is, with the representatives of our employees. We walked together with our unions, our confederations, and our professional organizations.

Again, during this process, we did not consent to the violation of our worker brothers' and sisters' rights for any reason. For instance, we recently ensured the resolution of the problems of our miner brothers and sisters who were protesting because they could not collect their receivables from a company," he said.

'WE WILL NEVER ALLOW OUR WORKERS' RIGHTS TO BE VIOLATED'

President Erdoğan continued, "I want to underline this once again today; we will never take any step against workers, laborers, or employees.

Because it is your sweat that truly makes this country a homeland. The labor of every brother and sister of mine who produces in the factory, works in the field, labors in the workshop, or sweats in the office is the foundation of this country's rise.

We will never allow the rights of our workers, who like you earn their living through their labor and produce added value for their country and nation, to be violated. Our vision is clear; we desire a working life that centers on the human, elevates labor, and strengthens social justice to prevail in this country.

We see our unions as our companions on the path to this important goal. Hopefully, we will continue to develop and grow our country together in unity, togetherness, and solidarity. I pray that God may clear our path and our fortune. I once again congratulate you and all our workers and employees on 'May 1st Labor and Solidarity Day'," he said.

News Source: 12punto