started · updated
Turkish truck drivers protest Schengen visa restrictions
Turkish international truck drivers and transport unions, including KATAŞ-SEN and the International Drivers Association, held a protest near the Kapıkule Border Crossing to demand improvements in working conditions and visa regulations.
A primary grievance is the Schengen visa 90/180-day restriction. Drivers argue they are being treated as potential migrants rather than essential logistics workers. The International Transporters Association (UND) noted that mandatory delays at borders, strikes, and loading processes continue to consume the drivers' legal stay duration, even when vehicles are stationary. The implementation of the EU's new Entry/Exit System (EES) is also cited as a risk, as even minor overstays could lead to deportations or entry bans.
Beyond visa issues, drivers are protesting domestic labor concerns, such as salaries being officially reported as minimum wage to reduce social security benefits. They are also calling for better infrastructure, including free sanitary facilities (showers and toilets) at transit points, and price controls on essential services for drivers along transport routes. They emphasized that these logistical hurdles directly impact the trade and supply chains between Turkey and Europe.
Entities
European Union · International Drivers Association · International Transporters Association · KATAŞ-SEN · Kapıkule border crossing · Yapı Yol İş Union
Claims
What the coverage asserts, and how many sources carry each claim.
- [● 3 SOURCES] The 90/180-day Schengen visa restriction limits the working rights of international drivers. hudutgazetesi.com · www.haberaktuel.com · www.mersinhaber.com
- [○ 1 SOURCE] Drivers face extreme wait times at customs gates, sometimes lasting up to 100 hours or 18 days. www.haberaktuel.com
- [● 2 SOURCES] Drivers demand the installation of free toilets, showers, and health cabins along routes. www.haberaktuel.com · www.mersinhaber.com
- [● 3 SOURCES] International truck drivers are being treated as potential migrants and asylum seekers by European Union authorities. hudutgazetesi.com · www.haberaktuel.com · www.mersinhaber.com
- [○ 1 SOURCE] Drivers' official salaries are reported as minimum wage, which affects their retirement benefits. hudutgazetesi.com
- [● 2 SOURCES] Drivers are requesting price caps on basic services and discounts at roadside facilities. www.haberaktuel.com · www.mersinhaber.com