Outrage over death of 71-year-old retiree forced to work: 'He had to work to survive.'

A union has voiced outrage following the death of 71-year-old retired Nurettin Muganlı at a construction site in Avcılar, Istanbul. The All Pensioners' Union Istanbul Branches Platform held a press conference, questioning why Muganlı was working at his age and attributing his situation to the economic struggles faced by pensioners.

"What business did a 71-year-old have working on a construction site?" the union asked, arguing that Muganlı's death should not be solely classified as an "occupational accident." They pointed to economic policies and inadequate oversight mechanisms in the workplace as underlying causes.

The union asserted that pension poverty is a direct result of years of economic and retirement policies that have widened the gap between living costs and retirement benefits. "If Turkey is growing, why is the pensioner's table shrinking?" they questioned, highlighting that individuals who have worked their entire lives are forced to seek employment again instead of resting.

Furthermore, the union drew parallels between the plight of elderly workers and child labor, citing data on accidents involving children in vocational training centers. They argued that both situations stem from the same economic mindset that treats children as cheap labor and forces pensioners to work to make ends meet. The union called for accountability, demanding an investigation into safety measures at the construction site and emphasizing the political responsibility behind such preventable deaths.