Tekel dealers protest 'professional chamber': Urgent change needed

Erol Dündar, President of the Tekel Dealers Mutual Aid Association (TBYD), issued a written statement stating that there were problems with the structure of the Chamber of Tradesmen and Craftsmen.

In his statement, Dündar called for change, saying, "Small tradespeople are the lifeblood of the Turkish economy, and their strength means increased prosperity. It is essential that the Chambers of Tradesmen and Craftsmen either renew themselves or relieve tradespeople of this unnecessary burden."

Dündar's statement is as follows:

The Chambers of Tradesmen and Craftsmen, established to be the voice of small tradesmen and artisans in Türkiye and to find solutions to their problems, have unfortunately reached a point where they are no longer able to fulfill this mission properly. Instead of defending and supporting tradesmen's rights, these organizations have in many cases become nothing more than an unnecessary burden, and they urgently need change. Otherwise, their existence will continue to represent an unnecessary cost and bureaucratic obstacle rather than an advantage for tradesmen.

Current Situation: Loss of Representativeness and Ineffectiveness

The founding purpose of the chambers of commerce was to protect the common interests of small businesses, provide solutions to sectoral problems, and serve as strong representatives of tradespeople before the state. However, to this point, most chambers have become bureaucratic structures, alienated from the true concerns of tradespeople. Membership fees, enforcement actions against those who fail to pay, and the inadequacy of services provided in exchange for dues have severely eroded tradespeople's trust in the chambers and their sense of belonging.

While struggling with economic hardship, tradespeople often feel that the support provided by chambers of commerce is inadequate and sometimes even creates an additional burden. The events of the pandemic have further highlighted this situation. While many tradespeople expected concrete assistance or guidance from chambers, they often found nothing. This situation supports criticism that chambers have lost their representative power and become alienated from the real problems of tradespeople.

Change Requirement: Structural Transformation or Closure

Continuing the Chamber of Tradesmen and Craftsmen in its current structure will continue to burden tradespeople rather than serve them. There are two primary ways to prevent this:

* Structural and Administrative Change: Chambers must refocus on the real needs of tradespeople and transition to a more transparent and accountable management approach. They must establish a structure that can provide rapid and effective solutions to tradespeople's problems, keep pace with digitalization, increase training and consulting services, and strengthen lobbying efforts. It is vital that chamber boards are comprised of individuals who are from within the tradespeople themselves, understand their problems, and are solution-oriented, and that membership dues are translated into tangible services that will be returned to the tradespeople.

* Closure and Alternative Solutions: If chambers cannot implement the structural changes outlined above and provide genuine benefits to tradespeople, their continued existence is pointless. In this case, removing the unnecessary dues burden on tradespeople, closing the chambers, and supporting more modern and effective civil society organizations (such as the Monopoly Dealers Mutual Aid Association) or digital platforms to address their problems could be considered. Tradespeople need new mechanisms to protect their interests, ensure easy access to information, and foster solidarity.

Small businesses are the lifeblood of the Turkish economy, and their strength means increased prosperity. It is essential that the Chambers of Tradesmen and Craftsmen either renew themselves or relieve themselves of this unnecessary burden on tradesmen. Otherwise, the chambers will continue to be "tradesmen's problems" rather than "tradesmen's voice."

Chambers of Tradesmen and Craftsmen: Change is a Must, Otherwise They Will Continue to Be a Burden.

The Chambers of Tradesmen and Craftsmen, which were established to be the voice of small tradesmen and craftsmen in Turkey and to find solutions to their problems, unfortunately do not fulfill this mission properly today… pic.twitter.com/ehxuRw2sih

— EROL DÜNDAR () (TBYD PRESIDENT) (@DundarErol_) July 18, 2025

Source: News Center