Wednesday September 18, 2024
Ertugrul Karaferiyeli, Human Resources Manager at Favori LLC, at Mogadishu's Aden Abdulle International Airport. Karaferiyeli is currently facing allegations of labor misconduct in Somalia. Credit: LinkedIn
Mogadishu HOL) — The Banadir Regional Court has ordered the detention of Ertugrul Karaferiyeli, a Turkish national and human resources manager at Favori, following accusations of serious misconduct towards Somali employees. The Office of the Attorney General presented charges including immorality, threats, and abuse of power, all in clear violation of Somalia's labour laws.
Karaferiyeli, who is employed by Favori LLC—the company responsible for managing Mogadishu's Aden Abdulle International Airport—is accused of mistreating Somali workers, engaging in behaviour that goes against both workplace norms and ethical standards. His career in the aviation industry spans nearly three decades, including over six years as Favori's Human Resources Manager in Somalia. Before joining Favori, Karaferiyeli held several senior roles at Turkish Airlines, such as Chief of Istanbul Station and Quality Assurance Specialist, indicating his deep experience in managing large-scale airport operations.
Despite this extensive background, Karaferiyeli now faces serious allegations of violating labour standards. In an official statement, the Attorney General's office emphasized the gravity of the case, underscoring the government's commitment to upholding labour rights. "After reviewing the preliminary evidence provided, the court has ordered the temporary detention of the accused," the statement read.
Karaferiyeli's detention comes amid growing concerns over the conduct of Turkish companies operating key infrastructure in Somalia. Favori LLC, which has managed Aden Adde International Airport since 2013, and Al-Bayrak, another Turkish firm managing Mogadishu Port, have both come under scrutiny. Last month, Somalia's Auditor General, Ahmed Issa Gutale, accused both companies of breaching profit-sharing agreements and failing to submit mandatory financial reports, raising significant questions about transparency and revenue sharing with the Somali government.
Favori, which is entitled to 25% of the airport's revenue, has maintained its exclusive rights to collect navigation fees but has yet to address the allegations of financial impropriety to the Somali government's satisfaction.
The Banadir Regional Court's decision marks the latest in a series of confrontations between the Somali government and Turkish firms over allegations of labour rights violations and contract breaches. In November 2021, the Somali Supreme Court ruled against Favori in a separate case involving the wrongful termination of an airport employee, Abshir Hassan Abdulle. The court ordered the company to reinstate Abdulle and compensate him for 14 months of lost wages, deeming his dismissal "unfair and illegal."
The Federation of Somali Trade Unions (FESTU) has been a vocal critic of Favori, accusing the company of widespread labour rights abuses, including "poverty wages," hazardous working conditions, and efforts to suppress workers' rights. Among the most serious allegations against Favori are severe occupational health and safety violations. Workers have reported a lack of protective gear, such as gloves and helmets, despite their work's physically demanding and dangerous nature. In some cases, injured workers were denied medical care and transportation. Instead of providing adequate compensation, management allegedly responded by hiring a family member of the injured worker, circumventing proper responsibility and care.
Favori's collaboration with Somali government officials has further fueled perceptions of impunity. FESTU reported how some ministers have allegedly received kickbacks, such as business class tickets and paid vacations, in exchange for turning a blind eye to the company's labour violations.