The problem of child labour is one that Turkey , as every country in transition, needs to address. The problem needs to be viewed in terms of demography, educational levels, economics and social development. The population of Turkey is estimated to be 63,416,000, with 25.4% in the 6-17 year age group. According to the Household Labour Force Survey conducted by the State Institute of Statistics jointly with ILO in October 1999, there are approximately 16,088,000 children in the age group 6-17, of which 1,635,000 (10.2%) are employed. Of these children 61.8 % are boys and 38.2% are girls. In the same age group approximately 78.8% of the children attend school. As for the reasons for children working, the greatest number cited was 38.4% who worked to help support economically the family household followed by 19.7%

A comparison of results of the 1994 Household Labour Force Survey with the results of the survey conducted in 1999 shows an important decrease in the percentage of working children in the 6-14 age group, from 8.5% in 1994 to 4.2% in 1999.

As a country, Turkey is in transition from a rural to an urban setting and from an agricultural to an industrial economy. The trend of migration to major metropolises, together with the disintegration or non availability of familiar social support network, means the phenomenon of working children is becoming more apparent, particularly, the numbers of children working in marginal sectors and on the streets in order to help support family income levels.