Sena Dolar

 

ISTANBUL - In Beyoğlu, the market tradespeople, to whom we handed the microphone to, say that they cannot sell, and the citizens say that they cannot buy products. Although the ‘’reasonable price’’ of the night market are expected for shopping, the situation is same in the night market.

 

The economic crisis, which increased with the pandemic and the Justice and Development Party’s (AKP) inability to govern, also deepens poverty. People are going through hard times due to the price hikes in natural gas, electricity, water and food. In the country, where the minimum wage is lower than the hunger limit, the market places are full of citizens waiting for unsold fruits and vegetables in the evening.

 

When we go to Arabacılar and Kalaycı Garden District Bazaar in Beyoğlu, the bags in the hands of the citizens paint the picture of the economic crisis. Except for a few kinds of fruit and vegetables crammed into a bag, those who visit the market return home empty-handed. Bazaar tradespeople complain about this situation as much as citizens. Sellers in a market, too, are trying to make money on the sales booth by selling their remaining goods at almost half price in the evening.

 

One of the remarkable points in the markets is the women tradespeople. Due to the economic crisis, women bring their invisible labor to the bazaar. We toured the markets in Beyoğlu and handed a microphone to the citizens regarding the economic crisis.

 

‘Bazaars are expensive’

 

Bahar, one of the citizens who came shopping in the market, complains about the increase in bills and states that even though there are two people living in the house, they receive a high amount of bills. Bahar said: ‘’The bazaars are expensive, of course. A kilo of pepper is five liras. Carrots are six-seven liras. If you can get it, you get it, otherwise you come back empty.’’

 

‘Nothing at a low price’

 

Hade Güzçay said: ‘’Natural gas and electricity prices have both increased. Water is the same. I can't pay at all. I also do a little shopping on market. If it is 10 liras, I am shopping for five liras. It is always 10 liras, there is nothing for a low price.’’

 

‘They come to the market in the evening because it become cheaper, but it is not cheap’

 

Sebahat Doludizgin, who has been trying to make a living by selling scarfs and hand knits in the market for four years, states that the business is languish by saying ‘’I am waiting for whatever happens, I haven’t made any sales yet’’. Stating that they had to live on a pension during the pandemic process, Sebahat said: ‘’I did not receive any help from anyone. You see young people, they cannot find a job, they cannot make a living. This is how we try to manage, we have to. People cannot buy and eat anything, they rebel.’’

 

Emphasizing that the price of fruits and vegetables sold in the market is high, Sebahat said: ‘’There is no fruit less than 10 TR and 7 TR. Some get it, some don’t. Prices should be more affordable. Cucumber is very expensive and nobody can buy them. They come to the market in the evening because it become cheaper, but it is not cheap either.’’

 

‘They said you cannot sell bread, I sell lemon’

 

Nurcan Önder, who sells lemon and flat baked bread on her stand, expresses that they were badly affected by the pandemic process with the following words: ‘’My spouse, a musician, has not been able to work for two years due to the pandemic. It affected us as well. During the pandemic, they said to me, ‘You cannot sell bread’, so I said if I cannot sell bread, I will sell lemon. At least I am making my own market money.’’

 

‘Everyone is struggling to make a living’

 

Neriman Akkuş, seller in a market who sells export surplus clothes, said: ‘’We only work for peanuts, it is not worth the effort. We are giving new clothes for two and half liras to help everyone. The raises are awful. Even the rich cannot afford to eat. In this disease, it is not clear whose hand is in whose pocket, everyone is trying to save themselves, what should the tradespeople do? Everyone is struggling to make a living.’’