Child labor in Turkey: Agricultural worker loses her life

* Photo: Anadolu Agency (AA) - Archive

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Belkize Çelik (17), an agricultural worker in Ordu's hazelnut fields, has lost her life after receiving an electric shock in the tent where she was staying. As reported by the Health and Safety Labor Watch (İSİG), Belkize Çelik came from Turkey's southeastern province of Urfa to work in Fatsa.

513 child workers died in 8 years

The İSİG has been raising concerns that at least 513 children have lost their lives in the last eight years while working and the number of child workers has increased due to the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak. The İSİG has been calling for a ban on child labor.

According to the June 2021 report of the İSİG, 59 child workers lost their lives in 2013, 54 children lost their lives in 2014, 63 children died in 2015, 56 children died in 2016, 60 children died in 2017, 67 children died in 2018, 67 children died in 2019, 68 children died in 2020 and 19 child workers lost their lives in the first five months of 2021. In other words, from 2013 to 2021, at least 513 children lost their lives in Turkey while working.

While 58 deceased children were migrant child workers, 294 deaths occurred in the field of agriculture-forestry, 50 deaths occurred in construction, 37 deaths occurred in the metal industry, 23 deaths occurred in the accommodation sector and 21 deaths occurred in trade.

While 169 deceased children were aged 14 and younger, 344 children were in the 15-17 age group, according to the İSİG report. (AÖ/SD)