35 pct of farming laborers under age of 20 in Turkey

ANKARA - Anadolu Agency

Unregistered child labor is widespread among seasonal agricultural farmers.

Research has shown that 35 percent of seasonal agricultural laborers in Turkey are under the age of 20, half of whom are under the age of 15.

Despite the widespread practice, none of the child laborers and few women are registered in the sector, according to the Agriculturalists’ Association of Turkey (TZD) Chairman İbrahim Yetkin.

“Our research has shown there are more than 1 million seasonal agricultural laborers, almost three times higher than the official figures, which do not show more than 300,000 workers. This is because a majority of agricultural laborers are unregistered,” Yetkin said in a written statement on Nov. 3.

“Some 30-35 percent of the temporary agricultural laborers are under the age of 20. All of them are unregistered workers. Additionally, a majority of seasonal female workers are unregistered in the sector,” he noted, also adding that it is very common for agricultural workers not to have any social security.