Liman-Sen calls for investigation into TRNC labour minister over collective agreement at ports

The Liman-Sen port workers’ union has called for an investigation into TRNC Minister of Labour and Social Security Oğuzhan Hasipoğlu. According to the union, the collective agreement for workers at the ports of Famagusta and Kyrenia, signed with the participation of the ministry itself, has still not been implemented.

Ali Yeltekin, secretary general of the Hür-İş trade union federation, recalled that Liman-Sen is recognised as the authorised union at the ports of Famagusta and Kyrenia. The collective agreement covers the period from 1 October 2024 to 30 September 2026 and was signed by an arbitration committee established under the chairmanship of the Ministry of Labour and Social Security. However, the labour and social rights provided for in the agreement have still not come into effect.

As Yeltekin noted, Liman-Sen repeatedly demanded that the conciliation committee provided for under Law No. 42/96 be convened, but the ministry failed to fulfil its obligations.

The workers’ rights were extended by a decree having the force of law, but the decree remained in force for more than 90 days without becoming law, and in April 2026 the Constitutional Court annulled it. Yeltekin said that the labour minister, despite being a lawyer, had failed to do his job, while the port administrators appointed by the Council of Ministers were not fulfilling their duties and were acting outside the law.

In response, Minister of Labour and Social Security Oğuzhan Hasipoğlu said that different issues were being conflated: the causes of the Filo Jet vessel’s sinking and whether its crew held work permits were unrelated. According to him, vessel personnel are subject to separate legislation and fall under the authority of the port administration, which decides whether a vessel is fit to go to sea.