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ANKARA - The International Labour Organization (ILO) and the Netherlands Ministry for Foreign Trade and Development Cooperation have signed an extension to the project cooperation agreement concluded in November 2012 to contribute to the elimination of the worst forms of child labour in seasonal commercial agriculture in hazelnut harvesting in Ordu Province in Turkey.

Ms. Özge Berber Agtaş, Officer in Charge of the ILO Office for Turkey and H.E. Ms. Lilianne Ploumen, Netherlands Minister for Foreign Trade and Development Cooperation (pictured above), signed the agreement in a ceremony held at the ILO Office in Ankara on 3 June 2014. The agreement provides a one-year extension of the project which is being jointly implemented by the ILO and the Ministry of Labour and Social Security.

Other participants in the Ceremony were H.E. Mr Kamal Malhotra, UN Resident Coordinator for Turkey, Mr. Peter Rademaker, Donor Relations Coordinator of ILO HQ, H.E. Mr. Simon Smits, Director-General of Foreign Economic Relations, MoFA, Netherlands, H.E. Mr. Ron Keller, Ambassador of The Kingdom of the Netherlands to Turkey, Mr. Cüneyt Özen, Head of Unit, Employment Policies, Ministry of Labour and Social Security, Mr. Ahmet Okur, Deputy Director General of Ministry of Family and Social Policies.

Turkey: Combating child labour in hazelnut farming This short film shows the setting and the results of a Netherlands- and CAOBISCO-funded ILO project on the elimination of the worst forms of child labour in seasonal commercial agriculture in hazelnut harvesting in Ordu Province in Turkey. To view in a larger version click on the YouTube icon bottom right.

The project has developed a strategic intervention model enhancing local and national capacities, providing direct support for children and families, and awareness raising in compliance with the Time-Bound Policy and Programme Framework (2005-2015) which is being coordinated by the Ministry of Labour and Social Security. Continuation of the project will continue the strategic intervention model and develop a monitoring mechanism for child labour in seasonal agriculture. The model will be scaled up in other sectors by ensuring active participation in project activities by the Government, social partners, civil society and the private sector.

Photographs of the signing ceremony

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The Netherlands is a major supporter of the ILO worldwide, inter alia through unearmarked core funding, for which it has been the largest donor in recent years.