AMSTERDAM – On 11 June 2014 the ILO and the Association of Chocolate, Biscuit and Confectionery Industries of Europe (CAOBISCO) signed a Public-Private Partnership Agreement (PPP) for the extension of the project on the Elimination of Worst Forms of Child Labour (WFCL) in Seasonal Agriculture in Hazelnut Harvesting in Turkey.

The agreement was signed by Ms. Özge Berber Agtaş, Officer in Charge of the ILO Office for Turkey in Ankara and Ms. Sabine Nafziger, Secretary General of CAOBISCO in Amsterdam during the World Cocoa Conference. The PPP complements the ILO and the Government of Netherlands cooperation on the elimination of WFCL in hazelnut farming and provides a one-year extension of the project, which is being jointly implemented by the ILO and the Ministry of Labour and Social Security of Turkey in the Black Sea region province of Ordu.

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. It will also contribute to the development and implementation of national policy addressing child labour in seasonal agriculture.

Mr Nejat Kocabay, Programme Officer for Child Labour, ILO Office for Turkey, and Ms Sabine Nafziger, Secretary General of CAOBISCO Click on images for larger version

The project also demonstrates how multinational companies, working in partnership with ILO constituents, can achieve sustainable progress in eliminating child labour in their supply chains by raising awareness of child labour and developing a child labour monitoring system.