As part of ongoing efforts to eliminate the worst forms of child labour in seasonal agriculture in Türkiye, the International Labour Organization (ILO) Office for Türkiye organized a training programme for teachers in southeastern province Şanlıurfa on 24 December 2025, with the participation of representatives from the Ministry of Labour and Social Security.
The training was conducted within the framework ofAn Integrated Model for the Elimination of the Worst Forms of Child Labour in Seasonal Agriculture in Hazelnut Harvesting in Türkiye implemented by the ILO Office for Türkiye and funded by the Association of the Chocolate, Biscuit and Confectionery Industries of Europe (CAOBISCO).
Organized in cooperation with the ILO's implementing partner, the Pikolo Association, the programme aimed to strengthen children's uninterrupted access to education. Teachers working in schools where children from seasonal agricultural worker families are highly represented in Şanlıurfa participated in the training. The programme highlighted the critical role teachers play in preventing child labour and ensuring that children at risk remain engaged in education.
At the opening session, Ayşegül Özbek Kansu, Senior Project Coordinator at the ILO Office for Türkiye, delivered a presentation on the ILO's approach to combating child labour, relevant international labour standards, and ILO's ongoing work in Türkiye emphasizing the importance of a multi-stakeholder and holistic approach in addressing child labour.
Prof. Dr. Murat Gürkan Gülcan, consultant to the Pikolo Association, provided detailed information on the current national circulars, and the non-formal education modules issued by the Directorate General of Lifelong Learning of the Ministry of National Education. The session explored how these regulatory frameworks support the education pathways of children from seasonal agricultural worker families.
In the final part of the programme, the Monitoring and Evaluation team of the Pikolo Association shared information on project activities as well as monitoring and evaluation processes. The training also underlined the importance of teachers' field observations in contributing to data-driven monitoring and evaluation systems.
Working in close cooperation with public institutions, civil society organizations, and relevant stakeholders in Türkiye, the ILO remains committed to preventing child labour in seasonal agriculture and strengthening children's access to quality education through sustained and coordinated action.
