A high-level delegation from the International Labour Organization (ILO) began its Black Sea mission in Ordu with stakeholders from the Association of Chocolate, Biscuit and Confectionery Industries of Europe (CAOBISCO), donor of an ongoing ILO project in Türkiye, together with representatives of the Ministry of Labour and Social Security (MoLSS).
The three-day mission opened with a stakeholder meeting that brought together project partners to review progress in tackling child labour in the region.
© Fatih Atıcı
Following the meeting, the delegation paid a courtesy visit to the Governor of Ordu, Muammer Erol. During the meeting, the ILO expressed its appreciation for the province's continuous support in addressing child labour in the hazelnut sector, particularly within the framework of the national strategy to combat child labour and promote decent work.
Discussions with the Governor emphasized the challenges seasonal agricultural families face in Ordu. The ILO underlined the critical role of provincial authorities under the 2024 Presidential and Ministry of National Education (MoNE) Circulars in coordinating monitoring boards, ensuring access to education for children, and improving settlement conditions.
The first day concluded with a site visit to settlements where living conditions for seasonal agricultural families have been improved under ILO-MoLSS interventions, showcasing the impact of multi-stakeholder collaboration in practice.
"The strong commitment we have witnessed today from the Governor of Ordu, local authorities, and our donor partner CAOBISCO is truly instrumental in achieving our common objective" noted Yasser Hassan, ILO Director for Türkiye. "The message coming from recently published ILO-UNICEF Global Estimation Report is clear; by joining forces at local, national, and international levels, we can ensure children of agricultural families are in school while their parents work under safer and fairer conditions. With the right combination of policy, monitoring, education, and community services, we can replicate successful interventions in hazelnuts and expand them to other crops, ensuring that children are in school, not in the fields." he added.
The ILO showcased the direct interventions of its ongoing projects, including those funded by the European Union, CAOBISCO and FERRERO as concrete examples of how national circulars can be effectively implemented at provincial level. Field visits were conducted to schools, Social Service Centers, and temporary settlement areas where the implementing agency Pikolo Association facilitates daily support to seasonal agricultural worker families and their children under ILO-MoLSS coordinated projects.
At these sites, the mission observed activities designed to improve access to education, strengthen community awareness, and deliver social support services. Teachers, social workers, and local project staff were commended for their dedication in supporting children's education and well-being, often under challenging conditions.
© Fatih Atıcı
Suat Dede, Deputy Director General of Labour at the MoLSS, emphasized that the convening of provincial and district committees and the steps taken ahead of the harvest season represented a significant development at both local and national levels. "With updates from the of MoNE, the steps required to ensure uninterrupted schooling for children have also been clarified. In addition, the National Employment Strategy was finalized, setting concrete targets for ensuring decent working conditions, strengthening responsible business conduct, preventing child labour, and sustaining rural employment" he added.
Alicia Bellon Moral, Sustainability Manager of CAOBISCO, remarked the project goes beyond a partnership it has been a demonstration of what can be achieved when industry, international organizations and national stakeholders work side by side. She underlined that sustainable supply is a long-term commitment for the sector and highlighted that the current phase of the project is a strategic shift toward institutional sustainability, resilient support, and enhanced awareness.
The delegation also underscored the importance of ensuring continuity in education for children of seasonal agricultural workers through catch-up programmes, school transport, and awareness-raising activities to prevent absenteeism and early school leaving. Local discussions highlighted the critical role of schools and teachers in safeguarding children's right to education and in breaking the cycle of poverty and child labour.
© Fatih Atıcı
During the meetings, the ILO reiterated its global mandate on Decent Work and Fundamental Principles and Rights at Work, stressing the Organization's integrated approach to tackling child labour. Referring to the 2024 Global Estimates on Child Labour, which reveal that 138 million children worldwide are still engaged in child labour, nearly half in hazardous work, the ILO highlighted the urgency of coordinated action.
"The mission also underlined Türkiye's commitment to conduct a new national child labour survey in 2026, in line with the National Employment Strategy, and welcomed the leadership of MoLSS in this regard. As the ILO we are providing technical support to MoLSS in implementing a roadmap as a Pathfinder Country, under the framework of Alliance 8.7, the global partnership to eliminate child labour, as well as through ongoing cooperation on implementing National Employment Strategy objectives." Yasser Hassan stated. "There is a renewed recognition globally of the need to address the root causes of child labour, which once again points to the necessity of providing decent work for families," Hassan added.
