Gov’t delays tradesmen’s debts in Soma after mining disaster

Small shop owners’ debts in the town of Soma in the Aegean province of Manisa have been postponed for a year to support the business in the town, which was hit by the major mining disaster that killed 301 workers.

The tradesmen and craftsmen in Soma and the nearby village Kırkağaç, whose business has been hurt by the disaster, will have an additional year to pay their debts without being affected by interest, according to the Cabinet decision released in the Official Gazette on Aug. 2.

The small shop owners that are comprised of by the decision will be able to apply to banks to request postponing their debts without interest, due to being affected by the mining atrocity, within two months, as of Aug. 2.

The mining disaster in Soma claimed at least 301 lives in May, triggering major concerns about work safety conditions in the country and sparking public outrage due to the apparent negligence.