Peoples' Equality and Democracy Party (DEM Party) Migrant and Refugee Commission made a written statement on the occasion of 18 December International Migrants Day.

 

Pointing out that rights violations and exploitation of migrants concern the Middle East the most, the statement said: "The endless war climate and political crises in the Middle East have displaced millions of people from their homes. Migrants are left to face exploitation, precariousness, racism and discrimination in the contries they go to. The government in Turkey, whic has the largest migrant population, sees migrants as a political bargaining chip against Europe."

 

'MIGRANTS HAVE BECOME CHEAP LABOUR IN TURKEY'

 

Emphasizing that migrants in Turkey are seen as cheap labour, "Migrants coming to Turkey are exploited as precarious, unregistered cheap labour. Under the conditions where migrants can become registered-insured employees only upon the employer's application to the Ministry of Labour and the ministry's approval, it has become impossible to ensure the rights of migrant workers through union organization. In order to put an end to the exploitation of migrant labour, all migrants, regardless of status, must be granted the right to trade union and insurance. The Ministry of Labour and the bosses it protects must stop exploiting migrants working under slavery conditions," it stated. 

 

'MIGRANTS ARE THREATENED'

 

Pointing to the problems faced by migrants, the statement read as follows: "The freedom of migrants to seek their rights has been completely eliminated by threats of deportation. For migrant workers who cannot claim their rights due to the threat of deportation, for migrant women who cannot speak out against male violence and sexual violence, for migrants who cannot even participate in any social action, life itself has turned şnto an uneasiness. This unpredictable and arbitrary deportation procedure is in violation of Turkey's own legislation and the Geneva Convention to which Turkey is a party. 

 

SNA ATTACKS

 

It is unacceptable for Turkey and the EU countries to stop the 'asylum and reception' phases, to cause systematic deaths thorugh the brutal push-back policy and Turkey's Readmission Agreement with the EU. On the other hand, as a result of the SNA's attacks on the settlements controlled by the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), thousands of people were forced to move to other settlements in the Rojava region. They are trying to live in very difficult conditions due to unfavourable winter conditions and limited facilities. It is our responsibility to make the voices of migrants in the region heard and to stand in solidarity with them . 

 

CALL ON ALL ACTORS TO TAKE CONCRETE ACTION

 

We call on the internationla community and organizations in Turkey to stand in solidarity with migrants, and all actors to take urgent and concrete steps to prevent further human tragedies and violations, including migration. We will fight together with migrants for an equal and free life in a borderless, classless and exploitation-free worl."