More than 7 million work exemption permits issued during Turkey’s COVID-19 full lockdown

More than 7 million workers in Turkey have been granted permissions to be exempt from the country's COVID-19 full lockdown order, the Interior Ministry announced on May 4.

Tuesday May 04 2021 06:07 pm

Duvar English

The Interior Ministry has announced that work exemption permits were issued to more than 7 million people in Turkey for them to continue working during the COVID-19 full lockdown.

“Up until now, 7,030,446 'work exemption permits' have been issued through the Interior Ministry's application system on the e-government portal for sector workers who are exempt from the restrictions during the full closure period,” the ministry said in a statement on May 4.

According to the Research Center of the Confederation of Progressive Trade Unions of Turkey (DİSK-AR), 61 percent of workers, which corresponds to 16 million people, are employed in sectors that are fully exempt from the lockdown rules.

From April 29 evening until May 17 morning, residents are banned from leaving their homes except to shop for groceries or to meet other essential needs.

However, millions of people are exempt from the stay-at-home order. In addition to health sector workers and law enforcement officers, they include factory and agriculture workers as well as supply chain and logistics company employees. Tourists have been also exempted from the restrictions, while restaurants are allowed to deliver food.