Heavy machinery operators earn 60,000 TL per month.

Excavator operators working intensively to erase the traces of the earthquake in Hatay stated that their salaries, which arouse curiosity among everyone, are a maximum of 60,000 TL per month.

After the earthquakes centered in Kahramanmaraş, the debris removal works and the reconstruction process that started in 11 provinces increased the need for qualified heavy machinery operators. In Hatay, where the wounds of the earthquake are being healed, excavator operators are continuing their shifts intensively. The salaries of excavator operators, who earn above the country's standards, have sparked curiosity among many people. The salaries of operators, which vary according to their experience, have reached the highest level of 60,000 TL in the region. Operator Mehmet Yüceli, who stated that he has been in the heavy machinery sector since childhood, emphasized that the figures in the range of 80,000 – 100,000 TL do not reflect the truth, stating that they earn 60,000 TL.

"I HAVE NEVER SEEN OPERATORS EARNING BETWEEN 80,000 - 100,000 TL"

Operator Mehmet Yüceli, who stated that contrary to popular belief, heavy machinery operators do not earn very high salaries, said, "I have been doing this job since my childhood. Not everyone can do this job. There is a lack of trained oilers responsible for the maintenance of heavy machinery. Some people are misinformed. I have never seen operators earning between 80,000 - 100,000 TL. My current salary is around 60,000 TL. This job is heavy, so not everyone can do it. Therefore, there is also a lack of trained personnel. I have been doing this job since I was 12 years old. An oiler must be trained so that they can learn the job while taking care of the machine. Some people use heavy machinery after just one month of training and then end up dead under a building. If you are a one-month operator, you will die later. They should use it after at least 2 years of training," he said.

ACCIDENTS OCCUR BECAUSE OF TRYING TO WORK WITH INEXPERIENCED AND LOW-QUALITY OPERATORS IN THE SECTOR

Operator Hakan Uzun stated that inexperienced and low-quality operators cause more work accidents, noting that an experienced operator's monthly salary is around 60,000 TL, saying, "I have been doing this job for 15 years. With the increase in urban transformation, I saw that there was a demand for this profession in this sector and started working. Today, qualified and trained operators earn around 60,000 TL per month. Inexperienced operators start with the minimum wage at first. As they develop themselves, their salary level increases. Like in all other sectors, it is a situation indexed to experience. To become an experienced operator, at least 5 years of time is needed. During this 5-year period, they need to have the ability to train themselves. The number of new personnel in this job is not sufficient. In the past, oilers worked on the machines and were trained that way. In today's economic conditions, it is not possible to pay salaries to operators and oilers, so new operators are not being trained in the sector. As a result, low-quality operators cause work accidents. These accidents occur because they are trying to work with inexperienced and low-quality operators in the sector," he stated.