Most of the hazelnuts used in various products on German supermarket shelves come from Türkiye. This supply chain begins with the harvest season in August. Harvest workers and their families travel from their home provinces in south-eastern Türkiye to the numerous hazelnut orchards on the eastern Black Sea coast.
Following the supply chain, Dr Carsten Stender, Director General of European and International Employment and Social Policy, visited projects combating child labour in the hazelnut harvest. The projects of the International Labour Organization, in cooperation with the Turkish government and companies operating in Germany, have been very successful and make the effects of German supply chain legislation tangible in practice.
In talks with the provincial administration in Samsun, the delegation learned about the Turkish government's wide-ranging activities to combat child labour in the hazelnut harvest, including improving the living conditions of mobile harvesters and their families. Like Germany, Türkiye is an Alliance 8.7 Pathfinder Country and as such has committed itself to stepping up its efforts to eliminate child labour and combat forced labour and human trafficking. The measures to combat child labour have been enshrined in law.
During a visit first to a hazelnut orchard then to a tent city, the delegation met with employment agencies, harvest workers and families. The impact of the ILO projects on people's everyday lives became clear: the projects include looking after children during the harvest season by providing cultural, sporting, creative and social activities. These activities take place in public schools that are not in use during the school breaks. Transport is organised to bring the children back to their home towns in time for the start of the school year. Support is also provided for the renovation of permanent accommodation for harvest workers, the provision of electricity and water to the tent cities, and the supply of hygiene products and food to families. All stakeholders are working to raise awareness of the harmfulness of child labour. This significantly improves the coordination between the provincial administration, the Chamber of Agriculture, trade unions, NGOs and families.