The International Labour Organization (ILO) Office for Türkiye, together with the Ministry of Labour and Social Security (MoLSS), marked the completion of the Elimination of Child Labour in Seasonal Agriculture Project.
The European Union-funded initiative reached more than 21,000 children across 17 provinces while strengthening national systems to prevent child labour and keep children in school.
Tackling the root causes
Reflecting on the project's achievements, Yasser Hassan, Director of the ILO Office for Türkiye, emphasized that child labour cannot be viewed in isolation.
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"Child labour remains one of the most persistent decent work deficits worldwide and should be understood as a violation of fundamental human rights rather than merely a labour market issue," Hassan said. "Sustainable prevention requires tackling the root causes through decent work, social protection, quality education and tailored interventions that respond to the realities of vulnerable groups.
"Over the past years, we have worked together to address one of the most persistent decent work challenges in seasonal agriculture: child labour and the vulnerability of seasonal agricultural workers and their families. "Implemented across multiple provinces and involving a wide range of institutions and stakeholders, this project has delivered tangible results. Institutional capacities have been strengthened, coordination among public institutions has improved, access to education and support services for children has expanded, and the working and living conditions of seasonal agricultural workers and their families have improved.
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"The project also demonstrated that child labour is fundamentally a symptom of deeper systemic challenges, including poverty, informality and decent work deficits. Addressing these challenges requires stronger implementation of international labour standards and responsible business conduct. Frameworks such as the ILO MNE Declaration, the OECD Guidelines for Multinational Enterprises on Responsible Business Conduct and the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights provide practical guidance for promoting responsible business conduct and keeping supply chains free from exploitation."
Key achievements
Highlighting the project's impact, Fatma Gelir Ünal, Senior Project Coordinator at the ILO Office for Türkiye, said field teams reached more than 21,000 children, directing nearly 17,000 to schools and social support centres while providing educational materials, clothing and safe transportation.
The project also provided counselling to more than 10,900 families, delivered health and parenting training to nearly 5,000 family members, and improved living conditions by constructing or renovating 34 buildings and settlement sites used by seasonal agricultural workers.
Beyond direct assistance, the initiative raised awareness among more than 184,000 people, produced 14 research studies, and brought together 68 national and local stakeholders to strengthen efforts to eliminate child labour.
A key outcome of the project was the development and operationalization of the e-METIP digital monitoring system, which provides public authorities with real-time data to better monitor and prevent child labour in seasonal agriculture.
The project leaves behind stronger institutional capacities, improved digital monitoring systems and enhanced living conditions for seasonal agricultural workers. These results provide a sustainable foundation for continued efforts to eliminate child labour in agriculture in Türkiye and offer valuable lessons for similar initiatives elsewhere.
