At least 145 workers die in March 2025 in Türkiye, work-related death toll hits 447 in 3 months

The Health and Safety Labor Watch Council (ISIG) reported that at least 145 workers lost their lives in March 2025. This number was based on information from national media (72%) and workers’ colleagues, families, workplace safety experts, workplace doctors, trade unions, and local media (28%).

As a result, the total number of work-related fatalities in the first three months of 2025 reached 447, with 178 deaths in January, 124 in February, and 145 in March.

The sectors with the highest number of fatalities

In March, deaths in construction, agriculture, transportation, hospitality, and metal industries were among the highest.

A sector-specific breakdown reveals that 46 workers in industry, 38 in construction, 33 in services, and 28 in agriculture lost their lives.

Construction deaths in the earthquake zone

In the construction sector, the earthquake region stood out, with 15 out of 36 work-related deaths occurring in Hatay, Gaziantep, Adıyaman, Malatya, and Osmaniye.

Surge in agricultural deaths as spring arrives

With warmer weather, agricultural production and movement have increased. While 13 workers lost their lives in the agricultural sector last month, that number rose to 28 in March.

Engineers’ deaths on the rise

Deaths among engineers, once a rare occurrence, have now been reported every month. Three engineers were among the fatalities in March.

The leading causes of work-related fatalities

Traffic and service accidents topped the list of causes for work-related deaths, with many fatalities among drivers and workers in service vehicles within the transportation, construction, and agriculture sectors.

The second leading cause of death involved crushes and collapses, particularly in the agriculture, construction, and metal industries. The third most common cause of death was falls from heights, predominantly in construction sites.

A tragic toll on young workers and women

Seven women workers lost their lives in March. They worked in agriculture, education, office, hospitality, and general labor sectors.

March also saw the deaths of six child workers. In Hatay Antakya, three children died in a service vehicle accident that was transporting construction workers. Other child worker fatalities included a construction worker, a sportsman, and a restaurant worker.

Nearly a quarter of the deceased workers in March were young workers aged 18-25, who are vulnerable to poverty, precarious work conditions, violence, lack of a future, and work-related fatalities.

Migrant workers among fatalities

Four migrant workers (two from Azerbaijan, one from Pakistan, and one from Turkmenistan) also died in March. These workers were employed in agriculture, trade, construction, and transportation sectors.

Union membership and work-related fatalities

Of the workers who lost their lives, only two were union members, while 143 (98.6%) were non-unionized. The unionized workers were employed in the chemical and health sectors.

Causes of work-related fatalities in March

• Traffic and service accidents: 36 deaths
• Crushes and collapses: 29 deaths
• Falls from heights: 27 deaths
• Heart attacks and strokes: 21 deaths
• Suicides: 10 deaths
• Explosions and fires: 7 deaths
• Electric shocks: 3 deaths
• Violence: 2 deaths
• Poisoning and drowning: 1 death
• Object collisions and falls: 1 death
• Cuts and severed limbs: 1 death
• Other causes: 7 deaths

Work-related fatalities in 52 cities and abroad

Work-related fatalities were reported in 52 cities across Türkiye and five countries (where workers were either short-term employees or worked in Turkish-origin companies abroad). Some of the cities with the highest fatalities include

• Hatay: 13 deaths
• Istanbul: 11 deaths
• Sakarya: 8 deaths
• Bursa: 7 deaths
• Ankara, Antalya, Izmir, Osmaniye: 5 deaths each
• Aydin, Burdur, Manisa: 4 deaths each
• Adıyaman, Balikesir, Edirne, Gaziantep, Kayseri, Mardin, Mugla, Zonguldak, Iraq: 3 deaths each
• Adana, Afyon, Diyarbakir, Duzce, Giresun, Karaman, Kastamonu, Ordu, Sivas, Yalova: 2 deaths each
• Other cities: 1 death each

The issue of worker suicides in Türkiye

Long working hours, excessive and heavy workloads, job pressure, temporary contracts, remote work, stress, low wages, unpaid overtime, and performance-based systems are conditions that are increasingly threatening workers’ lives in Türkiye. These circumstances contribute to worker suicides.

Before attempting suicide, workers often display mental health symptoms such as depression, burnout, chronic fatigue, and loss of cognitive abilities. Physical symptoms like headaches, stomach pains, diarrhea, constipation, and mild fever may accompany these mental health issues. Workers experiencing these conditions often have limited social activities and devote most of their time to work.

A look at worker suicides in March

In March, 10 workers’ suicides were recorded. Below are some of the tragic cases:

• Surhan Resulov, 26, an Azerbaijani Geomatics Engineer, committed suicide on March 18 in Zonguldak. After struggling to find work, he was employed at a local shop and reportedly struggled with depression due to unemployment.
• Emine Sariaydin, 21, a Turkish Language and Literature Teacher, took her life on March 16 in Giresun. She had failed to pass the public service exam (KPSS), leading to depression.
• Ece Gurel, 36, a Landscape Architect, died on March 2 in Istanbul after being found in a hypothermic state. She had been harassed at work and faced pressure to perform tasks outside her job description. On the day she died, she had been forced to sign a resignation letter without compensation.
• Ali Gergin, 36, the head of the Amasya Gumushacikoy Irrigation Union, died by suicide on March 17. He left a note saying, “I could not succeed in my job.”
• Bilal Tufan Aldemir, 38, a street musician, was reported missing on March 14 and was found dead at the Cubuk-1 Dam in Ankara. He had faced financial hardship since the pandemic and struggled with depression.

According to experts, the growing prevalence of suicides among workers also calls for immediate action to address mental health issues in the workplace.