University. He was charged due to an interview he gave to a local internet news site about the Covid-19 outbreak. The complaint of “misinforming the public and causing panic” was sent to the university administration after the Prosecutor’s Office made a decision of non-jurisdiction. Although the investigation committee formed at the university found Pala not guilty by stating that he used his constitutional right, this case and other similar ones prevented doctors from making statements about the pandemic. Source: Turkish vast majority of healthcare professionals, no regular testing mechanisms have been implemented. As of 6 January 2021, 334 [2020 - Support demo to Prof. Dr. health workers have died from Covid-19 since the beginning of Kayıhan Pala] pandemic, according to the data collected by TTB.94 Meanwhile, over 120,000 health workers have been infected by Covid-19 till the December of 2020, according to the official statement of Ministry of Health. 95 TTB constantly points out inconsistencies in the data shared with public and demands full transparency on the management of Covid-19.96 Medical Association - Working hours and workloads of employees working in units with Covid-19 patients have regularly reached the point that exceeds their capacity. The need to regulate working conditions in a way to protect their physical and mental health is one of the important demands recently voiced in a joint declaration by Turkish Medical Association and other relevant organisations. For example, according to the information provided by Turkish Medical Association 59% of Family Health Centres— the first step of health system and most commonly used one— the workers have no opportunity for unpaid leave even if they are pregnant, breastfeeding or have chronic diseases. Healthcare professionals trying to inform the public about the pandemic have also faced various forms of pressures. On April 21, 2020, the Bursa Governorship Administrative Board filed a criminal complaint against Prof. Dr. Kayıhan Pala, who works as a Public Health specialist at Bursa Uludağ 94 https://www.siyahkurdele.com 95 https://www.evrensel.net/haber/420735/fahrettin-koca-acikladi-kovid-19a-yakalanan-saglik-calisani-sayisi-120-binigecti Dr. Osman Sağlam, Co-chair of Mardin Medical Chamber and Dr. Özgür Deniz Değer, President of Van-Hakkari Medical Chamber were summoned to give statements in March 2020 regarding the interviews on the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic on public health and the provinces for which they are responsible. In their interviews, both of them pointed out the inadequacies of epidemic management and the amendments which should be made for an effective combat against Covid-19. The accusation brought against them is “causing fear and panic among the public”. On the other hand TTB’s requests that Medical Chamber representatives would be included in the Covid-19 Pandemic Provincial Coordination Committees and Provincial Public Health Councils remained unanswered.97 97 https://www.sessizkalma.org/defender/van-hakkari-ve-mardin-tabip-odasi-baskanlari/ INTERVIEW SUMMARIES Below are the summaries of comprehensive interviews we conducted with workers who have faced rights violations in the cases mentioned in the report, and specialists from their unions. We hope that these summaries will provide further insight into the cases discussed in the report. DİSK- BMİS, Eyüp Özer (July 17, 2019) Eyüp Özer: has been working as BMİS’s International Relations Service specialist for 7 years. He represented the Union in numerous unionisation processes at various foreign companies, in international contacts on these issues and applications. 96 https://www.cumhuriyet.com.tr/haber/ttbden-gercek-vaka-sayisi-aciklamasi-1797971 78 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 INTERVIEW SUMMARIES 79