In Turkey, millions of children continue to be used as cheap labor force, and hundreds of children continue to lose their lives in workplace murders
The main opposition party CHP’s Deputy Chairman Veli Ağbaba, drew attention to the “child labor” problem in his statement on April 23, the “National Sovereignty and Children’s Day.” In his statement, Ağbaba said, “Millions of child workers in Turkey continue to be exploited as cheap labor on this April 23, the Children’s Day. Unfortunately, our children, who should be at school like their peers, must work on lathes, constructions, and other sectors to support their families. Child labor data in the two official state institutions reveal this painful situation.”
The number of child workers between the ages of 15-17 is 619 thousand
Ağbaba’s statement read:
“According to TURKSTAT data, the number of child workers between the ages of 15-17 in Turkey is 619 thousand. The number of child workers continues to increase in Turkey after 2019. Moreover, these figures do not include the number of child workers under the age of 15.
The second issue is the spread of apprenticeships and traineeships as cheap labor under the label of vocational training at a young age. According to SSI 2022 data, the number of apprentices and trainees used as cheap labor in Turkey is 2 million. In this case, at least 2.6 million children in Turkey are used as cheap labor.
“At least 330 child workers lost their lives in 4 years in work murder”
According to OHS, the Occupational Health and Safety Department, data, the number of children between the ages of 14 and 17 who fell victim to occupational murders between 2018 and 2022 is at least 330. Unfortunately, as child labor increases in Turkey, the occupational murders of child laborers in workplaces continue to increase.
The economic crisis in Turkey does not only oblige mothers and fathers to work in a family, but now children must join the labor force in order to make a living for a family. It is precisely in this dimension that we need to look at child poverty and the child labor force in Turkey. While child poverty in both child labor and households is in this situation, it is impossible to talk about a growing economy and an enviable economic model as claimed by the government in Turkey.
When we look at all these official data, one can speak of a distorted understanding of the economy that impoverishes households and the children living in households and sees them as cheap labor. This is the bitter summary of the 21 years of AKP rule; they are working children who are trying to survive in the grip of hunger, who lose their lives while working.”
Source: ANKA News Agency
MB Sendika.org