BİTLİS - The Serhat part of the HDP Women's Council's "No to Women's Poverty" campaign has ended. The women met with the women working in the tomato fields in Tatvan today and listened to their problems.

 

The Serhat part of the meetings held by the Peoples' Democratic Party (HDP) Women's Council as part of the "No to Women's Poverty" campaign entered its third day. In this context, women working in the tomato fields in Tatvan district of Bitlis were met. HDP Women's Council Spokesperson Ayşe Acar Başaran, MPs Dilan Dirayet Taşdemir and Oya Ersoy, HDP Women's Council member Mukaddes Erdoğdu, Women's Coordination members Feray Mertoğlu, Tülay Koçak and Hazal Karabey, Party Council member Hatice Akdağ and Free Women’s Movement (TJA) activist Hacer Karaoğlan took part.

 

‘We just want to make a living’

 

The delegation has a talked with the women who planted tomato seedlings in the tomato fields on the top of Girfeqi hill in the district. Women who work between 05.00 and 18.00 stated that they only take a break for lunch between the hours they work. Women, who can only earn 80 TRY per day, said: "With the wage we can get here, sometimes we can only buy oil for the kitchen needs of the house. There is a population of nine or 11 people at home. Our only income is the wage we get from the field. Our insurance is not paid. We just want to make a living; we have no demand. After working in the fields, I cook at home, I clean, I don't have time to rest."

 

‘I cannot study’

 

A high school student working in the field said: "I am a high school student. I cannot study because I came to the field. All I want is to study and have a job. We work with my mother. All my time is spent here. We do not receive recompense for our work. But we must do this job."

 

‘Sometimes we are not paid until the tomatoes come out’

 

One of the women said that their tomatoes were bought for 50 kurus from the field and sold for six-seven liras in the market, continued her words: "There is a garden at home, and we work there too. I have children, but one attends the class and the other cannot attend the class. Because there is no tablet. There is no insurance and security. We are paid monthly. We are paid once a week, sometimes once a month. Sometimes we are not paid until the tomatoes come out. I have five children. All of them are students but they cannot get education. Our money is not enough. My husband is not working. We work so many hours we get 80 liras. We cannot buy anything decent with this money." Another woman said: "I have four children. I am separated from my husband. I am looking after my children. My house is in Tatvan. I get up at 05.00 am in the morning and work until 18.00-19.00 pm in the evening. I go home and I deal with children and housework. I am trying to take care of my kids by myself. Five people sleep in one room. The daily we receive is 80 TRY. This money is not enough for us. I am trying my best. But it is not enough."

 

Serhat visits completed

 

After listening to the problems of women working in tomato fields, the delegation of the Women's Council danced the halay together with the women, accompanied by songs.

While the delegation completes its visits in the Serhat region, it will continue its campaign meetings in the coming days.