The decision has been taken to close a shipyard in Istanbul's major industrial town of Tuzla following the deaths of two ship workers, Istanbul Governor Muammer Guler said on Wednesday.

- 21 / 05 / 2008 14:54

Activities at Selah shipyard in Istanbul's Tuzla have been stopped completely," the Guler said at a press meeting at Istanbul's International Ataturk Airport.  Labor Ministry inspectors are also continuing to examine the increase in shipyard accidents that caused the deaths of other workers in Tuzla recently, he added.

The working conditions at shipyards in Tuzla raised eyebrows recently as the accident and death rate increased. Twenty-one workers have been killed since July 2007 at 14 shipyards in the Tuzla region, and the Turkish government has failed to take the necessary measures to prevent accidents at shipyards during this time.

The government had threatened to close down shipyards that fail to ensure workers' safety.

AA