Those bearing the burden of the Covid-19 pandemic: A qualitative study on cargo company employees

The cargo sektor, which has been diverse for a long time, has become much more important during the pandemic period, and the new cargo companies that have been launched are also reserved. There have been significant increases in both the number of cargo companies and the number of cargo company employees. In this process, where we still feel the effects of the Covid-19 pandemic period, there is not enough literature information about cargo companies and cargo company employees, the need for cargo company employees is increasing in all areas, and despite the end of the pandemic process, cargo companies are also increasing day by day. The fact that they continue to work has made it necessary to carry out this study. The aim of this study is to investigate the working conditions of cargo workers during the pandemic period. The aim of the study is to investigate the difficulties encountered in this process, such as health and safety measures for employees in the cargo sector, social distance practices, and the workload, job satisfaction and motivation levels of cargo employees. In addition, this thesis aims to provide suggestions for improving the working conditions of cargo workers and the implementation of measures that will increase their general well-being. In this direction, within the scope of the study, interviews based on semi structured questionnaires were conducted with 16 cargo sector employees working in different cargo companies in the Dalaman district of Muğla. Within the scope of the study, it has been found that the workload of the cargo company employees and the problems they experience during the work during the covid 19 process have increased, the risk of catching the virus is high due to the fact that they are in contact with many of them cannot benefit from their social protection rights due to the widespread self employment in the cargo sector.