Child Labor Tragedy in Turkey: 695 Deaths Over 11 Years>

A report by the Health and Safety Labor Watch (İSİG), highlighted by the Stockholm Center for Freedom, reveals that at least 695 minors have died in workplace accidents in Turkey between 2013 and May 2024. This report coincides with the World Day Against Child Labor on June 12 and underscores the severe conditions faced by young workers due to economic hardship, which forces many into hazardous jobs.
Key findings include:
– An average of 60-70 child labor-related deaths annually.
– The majority of fatalities occur in agriculture and forestry (383 deaths), followed by construction (75), metalwork (52), hospitality (49), and food processing (24).
– Leading causes of death are traffic accidents (193), poisoning or drowning (115), and crushing or cave-ins (97).
– The youngest victims were 4 years old, with 17-year-olds experiencing the highest fatalities (220 deaths).
– 596 boys and 99 girls died, with girls making up 14% of the deaths, predominantly in agriculture.
– Migrant child laborers, mostly from Syria, Afghanistan, Iraq, Iran, and Turkmenistan, accounted for 80 deaths.
The report also mentions the recent death of an 11-year-old Syrian child worker in a textile factory due to a malfunctioning elevator, highlighting the neglect of safety standards. Turkey ranks among the worst countries for workers, with over 30,000 fatal workplace accidents recorded since 2002, attributed to lax safety measures and oppressive government policies. Union leaders emphasize the need for stronger democracy to improve workers’ rights, criticizing the government’s role in creating unsafe working conditions and restricting labor rights.