I went for an interview at the Migros fresh meat facility located in Menderes, İzmir. My experience was unprofessional from the start; I was kept waiting for an hour before the interview began. After the wait, I was given a tour of the production facility where the actual work was demonstrated. Regarding the working conditions, the shifts are 08:30–16:00, and if there is overtime, it extends until 17:30. They do provide shuttle service and a cafeteria for employees.
They offer a monthly shopping card, and it is important to note that these fringe benefits are tied to the company's designated performance targets. There are also bonuses and premiums; however, when these are included, the total annual earnings only amount to one-third of the monthly minimum wage. Additionally, new employees only receive 40% of these fringe benefits. It is important to note that if you leave or are dismissed before these annual bonuses are paid, your salary effectively drops even lower.
Furthermore, the nature of the work—which involves heavy lifting of large meat carcasses and dangerous tasks like meat cutting with saws—does not justify this salary level. For safety, cut-resistant gloves are provided. It is a high-risk environment; I witnessed employees with hand injuries, and the high staff turnover rate is clear evidence of the demanding nature of the work environment. I was never contacted after the interview, which is common for a place that is constantly hiring.
Moreover, there is a recurring pattern where new employees are dismissed just days before completing their second month, seemingly to avoid paying out bonuses. I learned of others hired at the same time who were systematically let go right before their two-month mark.
Furthermore, my experience at a retail Migros store was equally appalling. I witnessed an assistant store manager taking unauthorized photos of customers waiting in line. When I confronted them about the illegality of this, they denied it. When I reported this to security, they revealed that the person was the assistant manager, and I was met with hostility and unprofessional behavior from both the manager and the security personnel. Even when I escalated this to Migros customer service, no action was taken, and no one followed up.