International Equal Wage Day Program by HAK-İŞ: "Equal Wages Guaranteeing Prosperity, Unionization Guaranteeing Equal Wages

ANKARA - HAK-İŞ Confederation organized an important meeting on "Equal Wages as the Guarantee of Prosperity, Unionization as the Guarantee of Equal Wages" on the occasion of September 18th International Equal Wages Day. The program, organized by HAK-İŞ Women's Committee, was attended by HAK-İŞ President Mahmut Arslan, trade union executives, academics and members of the press.

Arslan: "Fighting Wage Inequality is of Vital Importance for HAK-İŞ"

In his opening speech, President Mahmut Arslan emphasized that HAK-İŞ carries out important work through collective bargaining agreements to combat wage inequality and that this issue is of vital importance for the Confederation. Arslan stated that more comprehensive activities will be carried out on September 18, International Equal Pay Day, and that women should be supported more in working life.

Sharing his appreciation for the research conducted by TUIK and ILO on equal pay, Arslan said, "I have seen that we should not conclude that this problem has disappeared just by looking at the routine provisions of the collective agreement, the general policy, our principles on wages in the Labor Law, the laws, and the fact that we signed the ILO convention in 1967." He underlined that HAK-İŞ should initiate a new and comprehensive study on this issue.

OECD Data and the Situation in Turkey

Referring to the OECD data, Arslan said that it is promising that the wage gap between men and women in Turkey is 10 percent despite all kinds of difficulties. Stating that this rate is around 6 percent in developed countries, Arslan pointed out that there is no inequality in the legislation and that the main problem stems from the implementation. Arslan emphasized that women should not surrender to the roles assigned to them and that preventing unregistered employment would be an important step in the struggle for equal pay. He stated that HAK-İŞ's success in making 65 thousand domestic workers union members is a first in the struggle in the informal sector, which is one of the most fundamental areas of discrimination.

"ILO's Demands are Our Demands"

Mahmut Arslan emphasized the importance of ILO's projects for working life and said, "What the international labor organization wants from us is what our people deserve. Do not be disturbed by ILO's demands. ILO's demands are our demands." Arslan stated that ILO conventions such as decent work, protection against harassment and violence should be proudly ratified on behalf of our country and reflected in legislation.

Women's Committee Chairman Zengin: "Women Are Subjected to Violence and Discrimination in Working Life"

HAK-İŞ Deputy Secretary General and Chairperson of the Women's Committee Fatma Zengin stated that women are subjected to violence and discrimination in working life, and that in addition to wage discrimination, employers view the possibility of marriage or having children negatively and that this prevents them from being promoted in their careers.

During the program, Ebru Özberk Anlı made a presentation on "Equal Pay Day and Its Importance Worldwide". Anlı emphasized that the wage gap between women and men worldwide is 22.6 percent and that it will take at least 100 years to close this gap. Anlı added that trade unions should play an important role in eliminating wage inequality.

September 17th Coup is a Heavy Weapon for Our Democracy

At the end of his speech, General President Mahmut Arslan reminded that September 17 marks the 64th anniversary of the executions of Adnan Menderes, Fatin Rüştü Zorlu and Hasan Polatkan and commemorated the martyrs of democracy with mercy. Arslan said, "All coups are serious attacks against our democracy" and emphasized that it is necessary to reach a point where coup plotters who ignore the will of the nation cannot stage another coup. He stated that HAK-İŞ has assumed a historical responsibility in this regard and has always defended democracy.