10.11.2026 20:41
The parliamentary inquiry motion submitted by the CHP to investigate in all aspects the explosion that occurred at the HABAŞ Iron and Steel Factory in Aliağa, İzmir, and killed 18 workers was rejected in the General Assembly of the Grand National Assembly of Turkey by the votes of the AK Party and the MHP. CHP Secretary-General Rıfat Nalbantoğlu said that 20 workers lost their lives at the same facility before three weeks had passed and demanded that inspection records be disclosed.
(GNAT) -
The parliamentary inquiry motion submitted by the CHP to investigate in all aspects the explosion and fire that occurred at the HABAŞ Iron and Steel Factory in Aliağa, İzmir, was rejected by the votes of the AK Party and MHP. CHP Secretary-General Rıfat Nalbantoğlu, noting that 20 workers lost their lives at the same facility before three weeks had passed, said, "No production target, no cost calculation, no profit can be more valuable than a worker's life."
At the General Assembly of the Grand National Assembly, convened under the chairmanship of Deputy Speaker Yusuf Beyazıt, before the debates on the bills on the agenda and the business coming from committees, the parties' group motions were discussed.
The CHP Group submitted a parliamentary inquiry motion to investigate in all aspects the explosion and fire that occurred at the HABAŞ Iron and Steel Factory in the Aliağa district of İzmir, to reconsider occupational health and safety measures, to examine the adequacy of public supervision, to protect the rights of workers and their families, and to determine the measures that need to be taken.
20 WORKERS DIED BEFORE THREE WEEKS WERE UP
Taking the floor on his party's group motion, CHP Secretary-General and İzmir MP Rıfat Nalbantoğlu emphasized that what happened at HABAŞ was not the first, and said, "In our country, workplace accidents involving death and injury occur almost every day, but these are lost among the country's agenda and debates. The latest of these unfortunately occurred yesterday in İzmir."
Noting that a CHP delegation went to the region after the explosion, Nalbantoğlu said, "Looking back, it is seen that various fatal and injury-causing workplace accidents occurred in 2019, 2020, 2022, 2024, 2025 and 2026. On October 21, Hakan Doğan, and on November 5, Eyüp Eğinli, who was only 20 years old, lost their lives while working at the same facilities. Then on November 9, 18 more workers. That is, before three weeks had passed, we lost 20 of our laborers at the same facilities." Nalbantoğlu continued his speech as follows:
ACCIDENTS INCREASED IN THE COMPANY'S OWN REPORT
"Now I ask the government: How many times has this facility been inspected in the last 10 years? What findings were made as a result of the inspections? What sanctions were applied in relation to these? How many more workers must die for measures to be taken? The Minister of Labour and Social Security says that no serious problem was identified in previous inspections. However, according to data reflected in the company's own sustainability report, in 2025 accidents causing lost workdays rose from 109 to 146 among company employees and from 38 to 83 among subcontractor workers. In the face of this picture, how can no serious problem be identified?
REACTION TO BROADCAST BAN
The imposition of a broadcast ban after yesterday's disaster is a separate disaster. Is the sensitivity not shown in ensuring workers' safety being shown in restricting the public's right to receive information? Why are you restricting it? What are you trying to hide? Are you afraid of the truth coming to light? Will you have prevented work-related deaths in this way? The state's duty is not to launch an investigation after workers die, but to prevent workers from dying. I make a clear call here: No negligence, no responsibility should be covered up. All inspection records should be disclosed, an independent and transparent investigation should be conducted, and the possible responsibilities of the employer and relevant public officials should be fully investigated.
Looking at examples around the world today, it is seen that these accidents are foreseeable and can be prevented by taking the necessary measures. No production target, no cost calculation, no profit can be more valuable than a worker's life. When we look today, we see that many countries, especially in Europe, have succeeded in reducing fatal workplace accidents by more than half—that is, by over 57 percent—in the last thirty years through legal reforms, technological integration, strict and transparent inspection mechanisms, and cultural transformation. Why can't we succeed? What are we lacking? Are our people worth less? As the Republican People's Party, I state that we will follow this disaster and the process of uncovering those responsible to the end, and I believe that the Parliament will also take the necessary steps on this issue."
The CHP's inquiry motion was not accepted with the votes of the AK Party and MHP.