The new destination for textile manufacturers has been revealed: 130 factories have migrated there

The textile sector, which exports to many Middle Eastern and African countries, particularly Russia, is going through difficult times.

According to a report by Erdoğan Süzer from Sözcü; Rafi Ay, President of the Öz İplik-İş Union, reported that the number of companies moving their factories to Egypt due to dissatisfaction with production conditions in Turkey has reached 130, and that 90,000 workers have left the textile sector in the last year. 

Ay pointed out that if production conditions are not improved and workers' rights are not secured, the exodus of factories will increase even further. Stating that savings cannot be made through workers' wages, Ay emphasized that an interim raise for the minimum wage has become inevitable. Ay held a chat meeting with journalists on the occasion of July 24, celebrated as the anniversary of the abolition of censorship in the press and Press Day.

SUBCONTRACTORS HAVE GONE TO EGYPT

Stating that fixed-income earners are going through difficult times due to economic hardships in the country, Ay said, "They are asking us to save. Workers, let alone saving, are struggling with the problems of feeding themselves and finding shelter, issues that were resolved 100 years ago. We cannot feed ourselves, we cannot pay our rent." Reporting that Turkish companies engaged in subcontracting are shifting their production to Egypt and that the number of Turkish manufacturers who have migrated to Egypt in the last year has reached 130, Ay stated that 90,000 workers have also been forced to leave the textile sector. Underlining that an interim raise for the minimum wage is necessary, Ay explained that serious obstacles are being placed in front of unionization, adding that workers are ready to take action and that the task may fall to the unions following evaluations within the confederations.

TAX CRITICISM

Stating that while taxes should be collected less from those who earn less and more from those who earn more, the burden is being placed on employees, Rafi Ay said, "The difference between our earnings and taxes is 115 percent. While the minimum wage was increasing, tax brackets were not adjusted; the gap was narrowed to collect more taxes from us. We used to enter the second tax bracket in the last 2 months, now we enter the second bracket starting from April, and the third bracket after September. But we aren't earning that much."

News Source: 12punto