Doruk Madencilik fined 4 million lira over 18 violations: mine operations not suspended

While the budget of the Ministry of Labor and Social Security was being debated at the TBMM Plan and Budget Committee, CHP Karabük MP Cevdet Akay asked whether inspections had been carried out at Doruk Madencilik. Labor and Social Security Minister Vedat Işıkhan's written response revealed that multiple violations of legislation were detected at the workplace and that administrative fines were imposed in return.

According to the information provided by the Ministry, within the scope of the inspections, an administrative fine of approximately 3.3 million lira was imposed on the employer in 2023 for failing to pay receivables arising from the collective labor agreement. In 2025, it was again determined that receivables arising from the collective labor agreement were not paid and that wages were continuously paid late; this time the fine imposed was approximately 20 million lira.

In 2026, as a result of negotiations carried out under the coordination of the Ministry, approximately 300 million lira was paid to workers for their wages and wage-related receivables, and compensation payments were also secured for 400 workers. In the inspection conducted the same year, an administrative fine of approximately 1.5 million lira was imposed on the employer.

Deficiencies were also identified on the occupational health and safety side. As a result of the programmed occupational health and safety inspection conducted in 2025, an administrative fine of approximately 4 million lira was imposed on the employer for 18 violations of legislation. In the response, it was noted that two inspections launched by SGK inspectors regarding the allegation that earnings subject to premiums were under-reported at Doruk Madencilik ve Elektrik Üretim Sanayi Ticaret AŞ are also ongoing.

Evaluating the response, Akay asked why the mine was not suspended: "In the occupational health and safety inspections at Doruk Madencilik, 18 separate violations of legislation were identified. In return, a fine of approximately 4 million lira was imposed on the company. So why did the mine continue to operate despite 18 separate violations being identified? Why was production not suspended despite such serious deficiencies concerning the lives and safety of workers?"

Akay said that the workers had protested for months, could not receive their wages and could not bring bread home. "The worker cannot receive his wages for months, cannot bring bread home, and takes to the streets to seek his rights. The employer, on the other hand, carries on its way with a fine even though it did not pay the workers' rights and 18 violations of legislation were identified on occupational health and safety. Patience for the worker, convenience for the employer," he said, expressing his reaction.