TRIESTE – Slovenia’s Ministry of Labor has stepped in to address concerns raised by a group of workers involved in the construction of the new Koper–Divača railway line, who have publicly reported mistreatment at their accommodation site by the Turkish contractor.
State-owned company 2TDK, which manages the entire project, has expressed willingness to directly address the issue of subcontractor payments in an effort to resolve growing dissatisfaction and protests over delayed compensation.
After a period of apparent stability, new troubles are surfacing around the construction of this key infrastructure, which within a couple of years is expected to relieve pressure on Koper port’s rail traffic, often strained due to outdated links with the international rail network amid the port’s ongoing growth.
In recent days, a group of Turkish workers claimed they were being held against their will at the Orehek camp near Postojna. In response, officials from the Ministry of Labor visited the site to inspect the living conditions.
The goal is to verify whether the contractor Yapi Merkezi has violated labor contracts or workers’ rights.
2TDK welcomed the Ministry’s involvement, noting that the labor inspectorate has the authority to ensure compliance with employment regulations. “As the client, 2TDK has repeatedly requested that Yapi Merkezi resolve the situation with its employees as quickly and appropriately as possible,” the company said in a statement.
“Immediately after learning of the situation in Orehek, we met with representatives of Yapi Merkezi and the Turkish construction company, who stated that they are addressing the issues on a case-by-case basis and have already reached solutions with most of the affected workers.”
The project manager also met recently with Yapi Merkezi executives in Slovenia and a law firm representing some subcontractors working on the Koper–Divača line.
During the meeting, the Turkish contractor again assured 2TDK it would take all necessary steps to settle its outstanding debts to subcontractors.
According to 2TDK, “the subcontractor or its authorized representative must collect the required documentation under Article 631 of the Code of Obligations. 2TDK will then review the submitted documents, and if the conditions are met for a valid claim, it will settle the request accordingly.”
The company has thus committed to resolving any remaining payment issues, provided that legal and contractual requirements are fulfilled.
