Garment Workers Left Behind After Turkey’s Deadly Quakes

One year after devastating earthquakes hit southeast Turkey, garment workers in the region are struggling with housing, job losses, and lack of support from global brands.

The powerful earthquakes killed over 53,000 people across 11 Turkish provinces and displaced millions more. The textile and garment industry, a major employer in the region, was severely disrupted. Over half of the workers surveyed by researchers said their homes were damaged in the quakes.  

Quakes Disrupt Garment Industry Hub

Despite the disaster, more than 50% of workers said they only took 2-4 weeks off work. During this time, 75% received less than their full wages, and over a third got no pay at all, forcing them to return to work quickly. Many workers had to stay on company grounds with poor living conditions.

Lack of Housing and Support  

A year later, many workers remain separated from their families due to a lack of housing. Workers who stayed in the earthquake region despite mental and physical health issues have had to send their families to other parts of Turkey, according to researcher Derya Göçer. She says there has been no support from brands to meet even the basic need of housing for workers.

The region accounts for 15% of Turkey’s garment and textile exports, including major brands like Benetton, H&M, Primark, and Zara. But only a handful of suppliers said these brands offered any support after the quakes.

Rights Violations Widespread

The report by the Clean Clothes Campaign highlights widespread violations of workers’ rights in the aftermath. Though the Turkish government instituted a temporary ban on layoffs, workers reported facing systematic verbal harassment by employers. This included pressure to work overtime, with threats of termination if they did not comply.  

With freedom of association and the right to strike restricted in Turkey, 89% of workers in the region’s textile industry lack collective bargaining agreements. When forced out rather than officially laid off, workers did not receive severance or other benefits.

Turkey consistently ranks among the worst countries for workers’ rights globally. In this climate, the lay-off ban may have worsened the situation for some workers.

Brands Shift Orders

Researchers say the production and employment in the region’s garment sector dropped significantly after the quakes, with European brands shifting orders to Asian countries.

“Brands can change purchasing practices very quickly when it benefits them,” said researcher Mayisha Begum of the Business & Human Rights Resource Centre. “But when profits dip, workers get squeezed.”

The report found major gaps between brands’ public statements about supporting workers and conditions on the ground. It portrays an industry that abandoned some of its most vulnerable workers in the aftermath of a major disaster.