Ömer Karadeniz, Chairman of the Plastics Industry Federation (PLASFED): “While it is gratifying to see the demands of the manufacturing industry being addressed by public authorities, it would be appropriate to extend the short-term work allowance at least until the end of September, so that businesses can sustain their financial existence without experiencing job losses during this challenging period.”
Positive Response to Our Efforts at Public Authorities
Ömer Karadeniz stated that they consider the short-term work allowance crucial for the manufacturing sector, which has seen a decline in production due to the Covid-19 pandemic. He noted that they welcomed the one-month extension of the application, saying, “It is gratifying to see the initiatives we carried out with many NGOs, including our federation, are being positively addressed in terms of extending the short-term work allowance. We believe that the importance of the manufacturing industry, which makes the country's economy more resilient to global shocks, has been better understood by public authorities during this period, and we anticipate that policies will be shaped in this direction in the future.”
Short-Term Work Allowance Should Be Extended for at Least 3 Months
Karadeniz emphasized that the plastic industry, which has seen a decrease in trade volume due to order cancellations during the pandemic, should not lose its competitive power in foreign markets during the normalization and post-pandemic period. He stated, “It is crucial for our sector to not lose its qualified, trained workforce to be ready for the recovery period in global demand. The most important tool for protecting employment in the sector is the short-term work allowance. Therefore, we believe it would be appropriate to extend the short-term work allowance at least until September, so businesses can breathe easy and look forward.”
PLASFED Continues Coordinated Efforts with All NGOs
Ömer Karadeniz emphasized that they work in harmony with all NGOs in the sector: “On June 18, we held an online event called ‘Presidents Speak in the Sector’ with the participation of the presidents of all civil society organizations operating in the plastics sector, such as İKMİB, AKİB, TOBB Packaging Assembly, EVFED, ASD, BASİAD, BURPAS, EASD, EGEPLASDER, EVSİD, KAYPİDER, KSD, PAGDER, PAGEV, SEPA, and ZÜCDER. As all our presidents expressed, in order for our country and our sector to reach the desired points, we must act together. Among the decisions made at this meeting regarding joint actions is our commitment to continue our efforts to maximize the benefits of public supports for the manufacturing industry, and we are ready to provide all kinds of support to the relevant public institutions in this regard.”
Translated by Artificial Intelligence
