Gama director voted off Chamber board

Business people in Dublin have voted the managing director of Gama Construction off the board of the city's chamber of commerce.

MHakan Karaalioglu sought re-election to the executive council of Dublin Chamber of Commerce for a second three-year term in spite of claims that his company was accused of mistreating its Turkish staff.

The body is the foremost business organisation in the city and is committed to best practice in business. Mr Karaalioglu's nomination was supported by two former past presidents of the chamber, David Pierce of Ulster Bank and former Smurfit Ireland chief executive Peter Webster.

"I can confirm that he hasn't been re-elected," said a spokeswoman for Gama. She said there would be no further comment.

Gama was the subject of prolonged controversy last year after 300 Turkish staff claimed they had been working up to 80 hours a week for €2-€3 per hour - less than half the minimum wage.

The company said the workers were aware that it was paying wages into their bank accounts in Turkey via a Dutch bank, a claim that the workers denied.

There was no mention of this controversy in Mr Karaalioglu's campaign literature, in which he sought re-election to the chamber's executive council on a multi-culturalism ticket. He was first elected to the council in 2003.

Council members include many of the most senior business figures in Dublin, among them Maurice Pratt of C&C, Liam Quirke of Matheson Ormsby Prentice solicitors and Michael Somers of the NTMA. Ten seats become available every year in rotating elections, on a first past the post basis, in which 2,000 business people have a vote.

Chamber chief executive Gina Quin declined to disclose any part of the election result and declined to say how many votes Mr Karaalioglu received. The names of the successful candidates will be revealed at an agm on Thursday.

"Each individual candidate knows the outcome of their election. All candidates have been informed at this stage," Ms Quin said.