EU Values 101 - Turkish workshop employs Syrian minors to produce fake life jackets for refugees.

EU Values 101 - Turkish workshop employs Syrian refugee minors to produce fake life jackets for refugees. (TZ).

İzmir police on Tuesday raided an underground manufacturer in the Konak district and seized a total of 1,263 fake life jackets that were produced with low-quality materials. Two young Syrian underage girls were found among the four employees working .

Employing Syrians has become commonplace in Turkey in the recent past as the growing population of refugees in the country provide a low-cost labor force for businesses.

Even though the government previously declared an intention to issue work permits for Syrians, they are now mostly employed illegally and paid less than Turkish citizens for identical positions.

The life jackets seized in the raid included counterfeits of renowned brands padded with insulating materials, suitcase fabric and low-quality sponges used to make the life jackets look thick and safe.

The raid came on the same day that Turkish authorities found the bodies of 34 migrants, at least three of whom were children, washed up on the coast of İzmir and Balıkesir provinces after they had apparently drowned while trying to cross to the Greek island of Lesbos.

The International Organization for Migration (IOM) puts the number of migrants who have died while trying to cross the Mediterranean Sea to Europe in 2015 at 3,771. Experts argue that fake life jackets selling at low prices are the primary reason for the high number of deaths at sea. Hmmmm......When will the EU take measures against these Turkish 'slavery' practices,  refugee exploitation and unfair economic practices? Yes it's easier to label Jewish products but one law for All!