‘At least 513 children died in occupational homicides in Turkey in 8 years’

* Photo: Anadolu Agency (AA)

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Candan Yüceer, an MP for the Republican People's Party (CHP), made a statement on June 12 World Day Against Child Labor, stressing that "2 million of the 23 million children in Turkey are in working life."

Referring to the data of the state-run Turkish Statistical Institute (TurkStat), main opposition MP Yüceer noted that this number is around 720 thousand, adding: "19 children died in Turkey while working in the first five months of 2021, while at least 513 children lost their lives while working in the last 8 years. However, the state does not even observe its own legislation."

Focusing on the agricultural sector, she said, "Agriculture is the sector where paid or unpaid family worker child labor is most frequently encountered. The occupational homicides of children also mostly happen in agriculture, where child labor is frequent and poor conditions are prevalent. 64 percent of agricultural worker children are between the ages of 5 and 14."

200 thousand Syrian child workers

Touching upon child labor among Syrian people as well, Yüceer said, "According to the data of the Immigration Authority, the number of people between the ages of 10-18 is 660 thousand. The number of Syrian child workers in Turkey is estimated to be around 200 thousand."

Yüceer raised concerns that "refugee child workers work in much poorer conditions in unregistered sectors and they are subjected to discrimination in their workplaces." She noted that "the refugee children who cannot go to school are forced to early marriage and child labor."

Referring to the answer of Minister of National Education Ziya Selçuk to CHP Niğde MP Ömer Fethi Gürer's Parliamentary question, Yüceer said that 839 thousand 735 of the 1 million 272 thousand 692 children having an asylum seeker status continue their education.

According to Minister Selçuk, the enrolment process of 432 thousand 956 students under temporary protection is still ongoing.

NOTE: The International Labour Organization (ILO) launched the World Day Against Child Labor in 2002 to focus attention on the global extent of child labor and the action and efforts needed to eliminate it. Each year on 12 June, the World Day brings together governments, employers and workers organizations, civil society, as well as millions of people from around the world to highlight the plight of child laborers and what can be done to help them.

What do statistics say?

According to the data of the Health and Safety Labor Watch (İSİG), 59 children died in 2013, 54 children died 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 children died in the first five months of this year. In other words, at least 513 children lost their lives in Turkey while working in the period of 2013 - 2021.

58 percent of the deceased children were migrants. In this period, 294 occupational homicides of children happened in the field of agriculture, which is followed by the construction sector, where 50 children lost their lives. 37 deaths occurred in the metal industry, 23 deaths occurred in accommodation and 21 deaths in trade. 169 deceased child workers were at and under the age of 14 while 344 were between 15-17.

The number of occupational homicides of children mostly increases after May, when the schools are closed, agricultural employment sees a seasonal increase and internship also increases. July and August are usually the months when the highest number of child workers lose their lives. (RT/SD)