was done after a decision of the Provincial Sanitation Board, and meant the introduction of a forced labour system that was not included in the labour legislation, causing serious reactions. In the workplace where some workers tested positive, the quarantine practice was implemented by continuing to work in the form of a closed camp, instead of sending workers on leave.90 According to the information received from the workers, nearly 40 positive cases were found in three departments within the factory, where more than 1,000 workers work. Despite this, workers were not tested. The workers, who were said to be placed in dormitories, stated: “We will stay in the dormitories at night for 14 days, and continue to work during the day. There are many factories in similar situation in Biga, but they do not want media exposure. Workers cannot speak out for fear of losing their jobs.” Source: DİSK - No doubt, health workers bear the heaviest burden during the protest in Çanakkale]”This pandemic period, with few others. workplace is Highlighting the importance detrimental to the workers and of transparency for the sake health” of public health, the Turkish Medical Association (TTB) has repeatedly requested the systematic sharing of data of positive healthcare workers (with current details of city, province, organisation, occupation, and sex). However, officials have failed to share almost any data about the infected healthcare workers, except for a few cases. [2020 - Closed The Covid-19 outbreak also resulted in a further consolidation of the de facto State of Emergency. There were even further restrictions on the possibility of the workers and unions to demand their rights. The events of April 30 and May 1, 2020, constitute the most striking example of this situation. Based on Covid-19 measures and restrictions, police intervened in press conference demands and attempts of many unions, trade associations and political parties in several cities such as Istanbul, Ankara and Izmir. Following the most intense period of Covid-19 (March - May 2020), a new period of “Controlled Social Life” as it was called by the Ministry of Health began in Turkey. From early June to November 2020 lockdowns on the weekends, closures of public institutions and places like restaurants, cafes and bars were eased. In this period however, it turned out that the Health Ministry made public only the relatively small number of Covid-19 patients with symptoms, instead of all positive cases. 91 As a result, and despite warnings by some NGO’s, the impression was given that the pandemic was under control, and managed well. However, when figures covering all positive cases started to be released at the end of November 2020, Turkey moved to the top of the list for new daily cases in Europe, showing the extent of how harshly Turkey had been effected by Covid-19. System Working The fact that Covid-19 is not accepted as an occupational disease for healthcare professionals is another important problem Source: Turkish Medical Association [Protest of TMC on Covid-19 management] that causes intense reactions in public opinion, - We are dying out as you fail to manage! despite the studies showing the risk of infection is much higher for healthcare workers than for others92,93 In addition, for the 92 Nguyen LH, Drew DA, Graham MS, et al. Risk of COVID-19 among front-line health-care workers and the general commu- 90 https://www.evrensel.net/haber/410345/pozitif-vaka-cikan-dardanelde-k-r-oncelikli-onlem-bantta-karantina nity: a prospective cohort study. Lancet Public Health 2020; 5: e475–83 91 https://www.evrensel.net/haber/419693/fahrettin-koca-uzun-zaman-sonra-gunluk-vaka-sayisini-acikladi-28-bin-351 93 https://www.evrensel.net/haber/413519/turk-toraks-dernegi-saglik-calisanlari-duzenli-tarama-kapsamina-alinmali 76 C O L L E C T I V E R I G H T S O F W O R K E R S U N D E R T U R K E Y ’ S C O N T I N U O U S S TAT E O F E M E R G E N C Y T R A D E U N I O N R I G H T S I N E U R O P E A N A N D E U R O P E A N - A F F I L I AT E D E N T E R P R I S E S SUMMARY ON THE GENERAL SITUATION OF WORKERS’ RIGHTS AND VIOLATIONS IN THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC 77