ADANA (DİHA) – Women of forced emigration victims have been facing ruthless exploitation in Adana. They have to work 14 hours to earn 19 Turkish Lira or TL for a day.

Kurdish problems’ another face is the cheap labor provided by Kurds and Kurdish women who are forced immigrants. Being forced immigrants means there is no alternative for work except serving for ruthless exploitation. Long work hours, less wages and unbearable working conditions are creating extremely terrible combination for women who have to work to support their families but also good combination for trader since there are no rules against traders.

These women mostly forced immigrant. They have been working 19 hours a day and for 19 TL as daily incomes. Make matters worse no social security or any kind of protective measures have been taken by traders. Adana is the most important city as most immigration-receiving city in where workers and women workers have been suffering because of these conditions and poverty as well. Those have to pick up peanuts, green onions, potatoes, egg plants, peppers, lettuce, corn and cabbages from 06.00 o’clock on early morning to 20.00.

Here are some of their stories;

Saibe Meşe (43), mother for four; her family had to immigrate from their village Yolçatı (Pora) in Kulp-Diyarbakır. He is diabetic and suffering from blood pressure problems. She cannot express her self when she has to speak in Turkish. She wants to go back to her land.

Saadet Bilmece (70), mother for 8; she is still working since her family had to immigrate to Adana from Şevket (Şiwkat) Village in Silvan-Diyarbakır. She explains: soldier forced us to be village guards. My family didn’t accept and village guard made us out of the village. We are not happy in here. We have to work in very difficult condition to live. Even though my age, I have work. I want to get back to my village.

Ruken Kurt (18) explains; my uncle had been killed 9 years ago and my family had to move to Adana to protect us and whole family. My father became disabled when he fell from construction. I have 8 more siblings. There is no income except my and my brother’s wages for my siblings’ school costs or other needs. I want them to get education. I do my best for it but work condition is really heavy.

Mother Sahibe Meşe and her daughter Pınar Meşe (21) or Melek Okumuş (20), İpek Uçar (18) and Emine Altun'da (18), all are women victims of forced immigration. They just want to work in a little easy condition since they cannot back

(Fotoğraf: Pınar URAL)

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