Kani Beko

Thousands of people have marked May 1 International Workers' Day in Turkey, with police detaining dozens of protesters during the events.

The official demonstrations in Istanbul were held in the Bakırköy district after the authorities banned celebrations from being held in Taksim Square. 

The police presence was heavy across the city, with helicopters buzzing overhead.

Turkey will raise the monthly minimum wage by 8 percent to 1,404 Turkish liras ($397), Labor Minister Mehmet Müezzinoğlu said at a press conference on Dec. 29 in Ankara, a level that trade unions did not welcome. 

Thousands of people gathered in the bazaar area in Istanbul's Bak?rköy district to mark International Workers' Day on May 1. 

The celebrations started around 1 p.m. with the participation of political parties, unions and non-governmental organizations. 

The police conducted security checks in the entrance of the bazaar area, while the police helicopters patrolled the area. 

Unions and the government have agreed to hold May 1 International Workers' Day celebrations in Istanbul's Bak?rköy district, Labor and Social Security Minister Süleyman Soylu said April 26.

Soylu said a delegation would visit Taksim to commemorate protesters murdered in the square in 1977 but the rally would be held in the Bak?rköy bazaar area.

The Justice and Development Party (AKP) is looking for ways to ease the burden on companies amid concerns by business representatives about an upcoming hike in the minimum wage. 

Five managers of workers? unions and chambers have been acquitted of charges of inciting the public to take part in illegal meetings and marches for the occasion of International Workers? Day in 2014.
 

None of the three presidential candidates is representing a profile that could convince 100 percent of all voters in Turkey to willingly vote in favor of him, presidential candidate Selahattin Demirtaş has acknowledged, putting the blame on the system which requires support from 20 members of the Parliament in order to be able to run in presidential elections.

Some 820 people were killed in work accidents only in the last six months, a senior trade union representative said, recalling that poor working conditions of coal mine workers in Soma were the main reason of massive casualty on May 13 accident that killed 301 people.