A deadly combination of factors that killed a family: A worker loses his parents and brother after contracting coronavirus when he was forced to work

Deniz KAR
Antep

İbrahim Karaoğlan, a worker at the Sanat Packaging factory in Antep’s Başpınar Organized Industrial Zone, was denied a request for quarantine leave after informing management he had been in contact with a worker who had tested positive for coronavirus. Karaoğlan, who tested positive for coronavirus on Augst 13th, lost his mother, Hanım Karaoğlan, and within a few weeks, his father, Mehmet Güllü Karaoğlan, and older brother, Sabit Karaoğlan. After these events, Karaoğlan was first placed on unpaid leave, and afterwards, terminated under the pretense that he exhibited "behaviors that do not comply with the rules of morality and goodwill” (code-29 of the Turkish Labor Code).

WITHIN A FEW WEEKS, HE LOST HIS MOTHER, FATHER, AND OLDER BROTHER

İbrahim Karaoğlan, while working at Sanat Packaging, requested quarantine leave from management after learning he had been in contact with a coworker who had contracted the coronavirus. His request was denied. Afterwards, Karaoğlan himself tested positive for coronavirus. Karaoğlan, unable to quarantine, had carried the virus home. There, he transmitted the virus to his mother, Hanım Karaoğlan, his father, Mehmet Güllü Karaoğlan, and older brother, Sabit Karaoğlan. All three lost their lives in the span of three weeks, Hanım Karaoğlan on August 25th, Sabit Karaoğlan on September 1st, and Mehmet Güllü Karaoğlan on September 8th.

Afterwards, Karaoğlan, who had been placed on unpaid leave, was fired under the pretense of code-29 of article 25 of the Turkish Labor Code. These events make apparent in all its naked cruelty the manner in which workers are exploited, up to the cost of their families and their lives.

HE SAID “I’VE BEEN IN CONTACT, PLACE ME ON LEAVE,” BUT THEY REFUSED

İbrahim Karaoğlan, who spoke with Evrensel, said he began working at the factory in November of 2019 and continued working until August of 2020. Karaoğlan, who mentioned that his coworker contracted coronavirus in August, said, “I told the factory, ‘I’ve been in contact, place me on leave,’ but they refused. On August 13th, I also contracted the virus. The virus had completely spread across my right and left lungs. Afterwards, I transmitted the virus to my household. My mother, father and older brother, we all lived together. I lost my mother on August 25th, my older brother on September 1st, and my father on September 8th, all due to COVID.”

“FOR ONE AND A HALF MONTHS, I RECEIVED NO UNEMPLOYMENT PAY”

Karaoğlan explained how after August 13th, he was placed on quarantine leave for 14 days, and after the quarantine period had ended, was given 17 days of sick leave, saying, “Altogether, I couldn’t work for one month. Afterwards, when I went in for work, they made me sign a paper and told me, ‘You’re on unpaid leave, you’ll return when we call you back.’ I was put on leave on September 16th. For one and a half months, I received unemployment pay in the amount of 39 liras per day (5 dollars) from the state. In the following one and a half months, I received no unemployment pay.” 

WHILE ON LEAVE, HE WAS TERMINATED UNDER CODE-29

Despite being on leave for four months, Karaoğlan received a text message on December 11th informing him that he had been terminated under code-29 of the Turkish Labor Code (behaviors that do not comply with the rules of morality and goodwill), saying, “They terminated my employment unjustly. I didn’t do anything wrong. I called the factory, but they told me ‘There’s no accountant available.’ I said, ‘I’m İbrahim Karaoğlan’ and explained the situation, but these people don’t want to speak with me. I tell them, ‘I’m going to file a complaint, such and such happened,’ but they say ‘Nothing can be done.’ How is it that nothing can be done? I would work on Sundays, but they paid us off the books. My overtime premium was always missing. They’re attempting to cheat me out of my one year’s unemployment pay.” Karaoğlan said he would be filing a criminal complaint against the factory.

“THEY’RE KILLING US, BUT THEY DON’T CARE”

Karaoğlan, who says he’s experienced psychological trauma, said, “They’re killing us, but they don’t care. They didn’t even call to express condolences, they didn’t help in any way. I have two children who can’t participate in remote learning. My brother was a security guard, and I’m wearing his work uniform now. I haven’t been able to pay rent in two months.”

We haven’t been able to reach anyone at the factory for comment on these events.