A joint statement was issued by Türkiye's leading professional organizations, trade union confederations and civil society organizations, including the Independent Industrialists and Businessmen Association (MÜSİAD), regarding the process of the struggle waged against the new type of coronavirus (Covid-19), which continues to have an impact in Türkiye as it does all over the world.
At present almost the whole of the world is suffering from the Covid-19 pandemic, described as one of the greatest disasters of the last century.
After the two world wars, we are living through the greatest crisis the world has faced.
Everyone is uneasy and anxious about what kind of day they will wake up to tomorrow.
Many of us are living a life of voluntary quarantine. This virus has now spread to 174 countries of the world.
Our country too is waging an all-out struggle against it.
In this process we extend our gratitude to all our employees who are at their posts, above all our healthcare workers, and to our entrepreneurs and our employers.
What we must do in this process is to stand in solidarity.
It is to fight against this pandemic all together, 83 million of us. It is to show everyone that we are one, that we are great, that we are strong.
It is to protect both our employees and our companies by taking the measures determined against the coronavirus and adhering strictly to the rules.
It is to continue producing by preserving our production and service capacity, and to protect employment.
To this end, our Government has significantly improved the conditions for benefiting from the Short-Time Working Allowance.
It has reduced the number of documents required for application. And now we all say together:
"Do not lay off your employees, protect your employment, the resource you need is in the Short-Time Working Allowance"
Our companies that have halted or reduced their activities can cover their employees' salaries from here for a period of 3 months.
We call on all our companies to make use of this opportunity. Let us join hands and leave these difficult days behind all together.
May God help us all; we greet you with respect.
Organizations that joined the joint declaration:
Anatolian Lions Businessmen Association (ASKON)
Foreign Economic Relations Board (DEİK)
Confederation of Turkish Real Trade Unions (HAK-İŞ)
Women Entrepreneurs Association of Türkiye (KAGİDER)
Confederation of Public Servants Trade Unions (MEMUR-SEN)
Independent Industrialists and Businessmen Association (MÜSİAD)
Union of Organized Industrial Zones (OSBÜK)
All Industrialists and Businessmen Association ( TÜMSİAD)
Turkish Enterprise and Business Confederation (TÜRKONFED)
Turkish Industry and Business Association (TÜSİAD)
Turkish Veterinary Medical Association
Union of Turkish Bar Associations (TBB)
Türkiye Pensioners Association (TÜED)
Central Union of Türkiye Tradesmen and Craftsmen Credit and Guarantee Cooperatives (TESKOMB)
Confederation of Turkish Tradesmen and Craftsmen (TESK)
Young Businessmen Association of Türkiye (TÜGİAD)
Confederation of Young Businessmen of Türkiye (TÜGİK)
Turkish Exporters Assembly (TİM)
Turkish Businesswomen's Association (TİKAD)
Confederation of Turkish Trade Unions (TÜRK-İş)
Turkish Confederation of Employer Associations (TİSK)
Confederation of Turkish Public Servants Trade Unions (KAMU-SEN)
Turkish Contractors Association (TMB)
Turkish Notaries Union
Union of Chambers and Commodity Exchanges of Türkiye (TOBB)
Union of Chambers and Commodity Exchanges of Türkiye (TOBB) Women Entrepreneurs Board
Union of Chambers and Commodity Exchanges of Türkiye (TOBB) Young Entrepreneurs Board
Association of Turkish Travel Agencies (TÜRSAB)
International Investors Association (YASED)