Labor Ministry inspectors find irregularities at Doruk Madencilik: Workers and state unpaid

Workers at Doruk Madencilik in Eskişehir's Mihalıççık district have been fighting for their unpaid wages for months. Their struggle has now been validated by inspectors from the Ministry of Labor and Social Security.

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The company forced workers into unpaid leave without written agreement, and workers did not request unpaid leave.

A report sent to the Independent Mine-Workers' Union detailed "union busting" tactics and confirmed that the company illegally forced employees into unpaid leave. Between 2022 and 2026, workers were reportedly sent on unpaid leave without their written agreement or consent. The company allegedly failed to pay wages and social security premiums for these periods, violating labor laws.

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The employer's refusal to accept the work of an employee who does not accept the unpaid leave offer will have legal consequences.

The ministry's findings indicate that the company did not report these unpaid leave periods to the Social Security Institution (SGK) or tax authorities as required. While wages for some unpaid leave periods in 2025 were reportedly paid to 81 workers, the associated social security and tax contributions were not remitted. Furthermore, workers who refused forced unpaid leave in 2026 and were ready to work are entitled to severance pay, as are those dismissed on May 15, 2026, to claim unemployment benefits.

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Severance pay must be paid for all workers who did not accept the compulsory unpaid leave in 2026 and notified the employer that they were ready to fulfill their work obligation.