Child Labour Delegation pays field visits to Ordu and Samsun
Meeting the authorities and parties prior to hazelnut harvest, the delegation underlined “End Child Labour”
16 August 2022
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ORDU/SAMSUN – A delegation composed of officials from the International Labour Organization (ILO), Ministry of Labour and Social Security (MoLSS) and Association of Chocolate, Biscuit and Confectionery Industries of Europe (CAOBISCO) paid field visits to Ordu and Samsun to review on site the efforts to combat child labour.
Under the Comprehensive Model Project for Eliminating Worst Forms of Child Labour in Seasonal Hazelnut Agriculture, a delegation composed of private sector representatives within the project donor CAOBISCO along with representatives from ILO, MoLSS and ILO’s implementing partner Pikolo Association held several field visits to review project activities on site and obtain detailed information on anti-child labour activities in Turkey.
Through the field visits held on 10-11 August 2022, the delegation met and exchange views with local administrators, teachers, students, families engaging in seasonal agricultural labour, orchard owners and officials from hazelnut companies. The visits covered Saraycık METIP area in Ordu, Güzelyalı Primary School in Giresun and Kızılot Middle School in Samsun-Çarşamba as schools where the project was being implemented.
On the first day of the visit programme, the delegation visited Ordu Governor Mr. Tuncay Sonel, then reviewed activities at Saraycık METIP area in Ordu and Güzelyalı Primary School in Giresun. The delegation was also briefed by Ms. Ayşegül Özbek Kansu, ILO Senior Project Coordinator, on the project that started 10 years ago and has been continuing successfully since then. The first day was wrapped with a visit to an orchard.
On the second day, the delegation visited Samsun Governor Mr. Zülkif Dağlı, and toured Kızılot Middle School in Samsun-Çarşamba and was briefed by the officials.
The delegation included Mr. Numan Özcan, Director of the ILO Office for Turkey; Mr. Nejat KOCABAY, ILO Senior Programme Coordinator; Ms. Ayşegül ÖZBEK KANSU and Ms. Fatma GELİR ÜNAL, ILO Senior Program Coordinators; Mr. Simon HILLS, ILO Chief Technical Advisor; Mr. Suat DEDE, MoLSS Head of Employment Policies Department; Mr. Aldo CRISTIANO, CAOBISCO President and Head of Institutional Affairs and Sustainability, as well as many representatives.
ILO Turkey Director Mr. Numan Özcan noted that ILO had a history of 100 years in combating child labour, and the ILO Office for Turkey has for 30 years been working intensively with MoLSS to combat worst forms of child labour. He expressed that they had been making significant efforts under the project supported by CAOBISCO since 2013 to improve the living standards of seasonal agricultural workers and bring their children back to school.
Mr. Suat DEDE, MoLSS Head of Employment Policies Department, stated that the Ministry had been combating child labour as a top priority agenda item since 1990, and coordinated the efforts of all stakeholders engaged.
CAOBISCO President Mr. Aldo CRISTIANO said that he noticed at every visit that the commitment and ownership by public authorities and all stakeholders were increasing and educational activities for children were more diversified and enriched, and CAOBISCO’s support would continue.
Under the Comprehensive Model Project for Eliminating Worst Forms of Child Labour in Seasonal Hazelnut Agriculture, a delegation composed of private sector representatives within the project donor CAOBISCO along with representatives from ILO, MoLSS and ILO’s implementing partner Pikolo Association held several field visits to review project activities on site and obtain detailed information on anti-child labour activities in Turkey.
Through the field visits held on 10-11 August 2022, the delegation met and exchange views with local administrators, teachers, students, families engaging in seasonal agricultural labour, orchard owners and officials from hazelnut companies. The visits covered Saraycık METIP area in Ordu, Güzelyalı Primary School in Giresun and Kızılot Middle School in Samsun-Çarşamba as schools where the project was being implemented.
On the first day of the visit programme, the delegation visited Ordu Governor Mr. Tuncay Sonel, then reviewed activities at Saraycık METIP area in Ordu and Güzelyalı Primary School in Giresun. The delegation was also briefed by Ms. Ayşegül Özbek Kansu, ILO Senior Project Coordinator, on the project that started 10 years ago and has been continuing successfully since then. The first day was wrapped with a visit to an orchard.
On the second day, the delegation visited Samsun Governor Mr. Zülkif Dağlı, and toured Kızılot Middle School in Samsun-Çarşamba and was briefed by the officials.
The delegation included Mr. Numan Özcan, Director of the ILO Office for Turkey; Mr. Nejat KOCABAY, ILO Senior Programme Coordinator; Ms. Ayşegül ÖZBEK KANSU and Ms. Fatma GELİR ÜNAL, ILO Senior Program Coordinators; Mr. Simon HILLS, ILO Chief Technical Advisor; Mr. Suat DEDE, MoLSS Head of Employment Policies Department; Mr. Aldo CRISTIANO, CAOBISCO President and Head of Institutional Affairs and Sustainability, as well as many representatives.
ILO Turkey Director Mr. Numan Özcan noted that ILO had a history of 100 years in combating child labour, and the ILO Office for Turkey has for 30 years been working intensively with MoLSS to combat worst forms of child labour. He expressed that they had been making significant efforts under the project supported by CAOBISCO since 2013 to improve the living standards of seasonal agricultural workers and bring their children back to school.
Mr. Suat DEDE, MoLSS Head of Employment Policies Department, stated that the Ministry had been combating child labour as a top priority agenda item since 1990, and coordinated the efforts of all stakeholders engaged.
CAOBISCO President Mr. Aldo CRISTIANO said that he noticed at every visit that the commitment and ownership by public authorities and all stakeholders were increasing and educational activities for children were more diversified and enriched, and CAOBISCO’s support would continue.