Trade unions in Turkey

Professional organizations and unions within the journalism community issued a series of statements as Türkiye marked Working Journalists' Day on Jan. 10.

The Turkish Journalists' Association (TGC) released a congratulatory statement to all colleagues, whether currently employed or grappling with unemployment.

Turkish Health Minister Fahrettin Koca on Sunday said the number of coronavirus cases in the country had risen to 86,306, which is the highest figures outside Europe and the US.

The 3,977 new registered cases on Sunday also pushed the number of coronavirus cases in Turkey above China's, where the outbreak originated.

The poverty threshold for a family of four was 6,543 Turkish Liras ($1,232) monthly as of January, a 3.5 percent increase from the previous month, the Confederation of Turkish Labor Union (Türk-İş) has announced.

A total of 60,000 incidents of violence against healthcare workers were reported in Turkey in the last five years, said Metin Memiş, the president of the Trade Union of Health and Social Workers (Sağlık-Sen).

Arzu Çerkezoğlu has become the first ever female chair of the Confederation of Progressive Trade Unions of Turkey (DİSK).

The total number of child workers, aged 15-17, were 708,000 in 2016, slightly lower than the 716,000 in the previous year, according to a report prepared by the Education and Science Workers' Union (Eğitim-Sen) for National Sovereignty and Children's Day on April 23, the anniversary of the foundation of the Turkish Parliament. 

Journalists staged protests in Istanbul and Ankara to demand the release of daily Cumhuriyet journalists, executives and employees on the 200th day of their arrest on May 18.

Demonstrators gathered in front of the Çağlayan courthouse in Istanbul and made a press statement demanding "freedom for the truth," while holding pictures of the jailed journalists. 

Turkey marked May 3 International Press Freedom Day amid growing concerns for the state of press freedom in the country.

According to the Turkish Journalists Association (TGC), there are currently some 159 journalists in Turkish prisons. 

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's leading business organizations have strongly condemned and expressed sorrow over a deadly terror attack in the Central Anatolian province of Kayseri early on Dec. 17, which left at least 14 soldiers killed and 56 people wounded.