Crisis hits Turkish contractors in Russia, stranding 2,000 workers

ANKARA. February 23. KAZINFORM Strained by constantly shrinking demand brought about by the current global financial crisis, most Turkish construction companies in Russia have suspended operations, leaving 2,000 workers without enough money to return to Turkey.

Badly affected by the crisis, Russia's construction sector has ground to a halt. Investment has either been interrupted or canceled, and most construction projects have been delayed. Turkish construction companies in Russia have had difficulties getting paid and have suspended operations; a large number of Turkish construction companies are returning to Turkey. On average, Turkish construction firms operating in Russia undertake projects that annually amount to $4 billion. Currently, around 2,000 Turkish workers are waiting in Moscow to return to Turkey. They lack enough money for airfare or to extend their visas. In a meeting last week in Ankara, the Foreign Economic Relations Board (DEЭK) decided to set up a fund to help troubled Turkish workers in Russia. The Turkish Embassy in Moscow recently released a statement saying that they are endeavoring to help the workers, are in touch with their employers and will do what they can to help; Kazinform cites Today's Zaman. Tuрrul Erkin, chairman of the Turkish-Eurasian Business Council, which operates under the auspices of DEЭK, said the workers are having serious financial problems. "Most of the Turkish contractors are leaving the construction field and have no choice but to dismiss employees. Money is not the only problem in Russia. Some workers who entered Russia illegally and were working without work permits in the country are now having difficulties extending their visas. They are staying in hotels, worksites and some in airports, waiting to return home," he said. In December, a group of Turkish workers protested against their company, claiming they had not been paid for a long time. They demanded help in returning to Turkey. The workers also claimed that Russian workers at the same company were being paid, but not them. Mehmet Kэlэз, a Turkish worker in Moscow, told Today's Zaman that he lost his job in December 2007 and had been waiting to return to Turkey ever since. "We used to work at various jobs temporarily for a week or a month, but even that has become impossible nowadays. Our visas have also expired," he said. Bьlent Ekinci, another Turkish worker, said Russian authorities had taken possession of the company he had been working for and that he could not contact the former owners of the company to get his paycheck.