A high-level delegation from the International Labour Organization (ILO) carried out a Black Sea mission in Ordu and Samsun, alongside its implementation partner, the Ministry of Labour and Social Security (MoLSS), stakeholders from the Association of Chocolate, Biscuit and Confectionery Industries of Europe (CAOBISCO), and representatives of social partners.
On the second day of the three-day mission, the delegation visited the Governor of Samsun, Orhan Tavlı, and the Mayor of Samsun Metropolitan Municipality, Halit Doğan. The meetings provided an opportunity to review progress in tackling child labour in hazelnut agriculture and to reaffirm joint commitment to improving the living and working conditions of seasonal agricultural families in the province.
During the courtesy visits, both the Governor and Mayor expressed strong commitment for implementing national circulars at the provincial level, stressing the importance of collaboration between municipalities, education institutions, and local communities. The ILO welcomed Samsun's leadership in mobilizing provincial coordination boards, expanding education services for children of seasonal agricultural workers, and improving living conditions for hazelnut-harvesting families.
© Fatih Atıcı
"Samsun and Ordu have shown us that with strong provincial leadership and close cooperation between public authorities, schools, and social services, meaningful change is possible," pointed out Yasser Hassan, ILO Director for Türkiye. "We have seen examples of how children are supported to stay in school while their parents work, and how families are provided with better living conditions. These interventions we run in coordination with the MoLSS and supported by our donor partner CAOBISCO, demonstrate that child labour can be effectively prevented when education, social protection, and decent work policies come together."
Following the meetings, the delegation conducted field visits to living areas in Çarşamba and Terme districts and schools where interventions support seasonal agricultural families. At these schools, children of seasonal hazelnut workers receive education and psychosocial support while their parents work in the fields.
© Fatih Atıcı
On the third day, ILO and Ferrero delegation visited community facilities providing health, hygiene, and social services to strengthen family resilience and prevent child labour in seasonal agriculture in Salıpazarı and Terme disctricts of Samsun. Teachers, social workers, and municipal staff shared experiences in addressing absenteeism, supporting migrant families, and ensuring that children benefit from continuity in education.
Highlighting the tangible impact of multi-stakeholder collaboration at the local, national and international level the mission reinforced the importance of scaling up these interventions and ensuring sustainability through strong institutional frameworks and continued provincial commitment.
© Fatih Atıcı
The mission concluded with a comprehensive review of outcomes from the three-day visit across Ordu and Samsun. It highlighted the critical importance of strengthened provincial coordination mechanisms in line with national circulars to ensure consistent oversight and effective implementation at local level. The delegation observed the positive impact of improved settlement conditions, which have enhanced the living standards of agricultural families and contributed to higher school attendance among children. The visit also reinforced the central role of education institutions and social service centres in breaking the cycle of child labour, providing both learning opportunities and essential social support. Moreover, the mission emphasized the value of partnerships with the private sector, noting that collaborative initiatives with donors and industry stakeholders are key to delivering systemic and sustainable interventions that protect children and improve livelihoods.
Through its partnership with CAOBISCO and FERRERO, Yasser Hassan, Director of the ILO Office for Türkiye reaffirmed ILO's commitment to working with MoLSS, local authorities and social partners to ensure that children are protected from child labour, have access to quality education, and that their families benefit from safer working conditions and improved livelihoods.
© Fatih Atıcı
Suat Dede, Deputy Director General of Labour at MoLSS highlighted the three-day mission once again highlighted the crucial role of partnerships between the public sector, private sector, and civil society in advancing decent working conditions, particularly in the fight against child labour. He said: "We had the opportunity to observe first-hand the improved accommodation facilities, educational activities, public services and other practices. Throughout the mission, we saw how the policies set at the national level are being translated into practice on the ground, directly impacting the lives of children, families and workers."
"In particular, seeing the reflections of the increased local coordination following the updated 2024 Circular on Seasonal Agricultural Workers carries special significance for us. The ownership demonstrated by local actors shows that our policies are not only a strategic framework but also practical measures that generate tangible benefits on the ground." he added.
Social partners were also engaged during the visit. HAK-İŞ, one of the biggest trade union confederations in Türkiye, was represented by its Ordu Provincial President, İsmail Zerey, who emphasized:
"We fully support all efforts aimed at preventing child labour, ensuring decent working conditions, and protecting labour. We believe that the partnerships established in this field represent a major gain for the future of our society. As HAK-İŞ Ordu Provincial Presidency, we will continue to contribute to every effort that ensures our children remain in education and have a safe future."
Mehmet Kurucu, Vice President of the Ordu Branch of the Hizmet-İş Union stated "It gives us great pleasure to see projects being developed and implemented to ensure the comfort and well-being of agricultural workers coming to our region, as confirmed by the on-site inspections" He said the work carried out and the projects implemented are of great importance in terms of health, culture, and humanity and extended gratitude to all those who contributed to the realization of the project.
