Direct Request (CEACR) - adopted 2024, published 113rd ILC session (2025)

Minimum Age Convention, 1973 (No. 138) - Türkiye (Ratification: 1998)

The Committee notes the observations of the Turkish Confederation of Employers’ Associations (TİSK) and the Confederation of Turkish trade Unions (TURK-IS) communicated with the Government’s report as well as the observations of the Confederation of Public Employees Trade Unions (KESK) received on 1 September 2023.

Article 8 of the Convention. Artistic performances. Following its previous comments, the Committee notes the Government’s indication in its report that proceedings have been initiated for issuing an implementing regulation pursuant to section 71 of the Labour Law thereby regulating the employment of children in arts, culture and advertising activities. The Committee hopes that the Government will take the necessary measures, without delay, to ensure the adoption of the implementing regulation regulating the employment of children in art, culture and advertising activities pursuant to section 71 of the Labour Law. It requests the Government to provide information on any progress made in this regard.

Article 9(1). Penalties and labour inspection. The Committee notes that in its communication, TISK indicates that child workers are a priority risk group in all scheduled and unscheduled inspections carried out by the Ministry of Labour Guidance and Inspection Directorate. TISK also indicates that the Units to Combat Child Labour established in 81 provinces carry out knowledge -sharing and awareness-raising activities for employers, agricultural agents and families.

The Committee notes the Government’s information that between 1 June 2020 and 31 May 2023, 57,852 labour inspections were carried out and a total of 190 workplaces that employ children were found to be violating the provisions of section 71 of the Labour Law and the related regulation. An administrative fine of 682,878 Turkish liras was imposed on the employers for such violations. The Government further indicates that within the framework of the Children’s Rights and Labour Relations Work Programme implemented in line with the objectives specified under the 11th Development Plan and the National Employment Strategy 2014–23 by the Labour Inspectorate and UNICEF in the years 2020–22, research activities were carried out by the labour inspectors in the auto repair, textile, shoe and furniture sectors which were determined as the priority sectors in the provinces of Izmir, Adana, Konya, Mersin, Hatay, Bursa and Denzli. In this context, activities were carried out with public institutions, relevant social partners and international organizations on the measures to prevent child labour in heavy and hazardous work. Children who were found to be in child labour or out of education were directed to the Ministry of National Education to ensure their attendance at school or in vocational training or to the Ministry of Family, Labour and Social Services in order to identify the economic situation of their families and to provide them with the relevant social assistance. The Committee encourages the Government to pursue its efforts in order to ensure that section 71 of the Labour Law and its related regulation on the employment of children are effectively implemented and to continue to provide information on the measures taken in this regard as well as on the penalties applied in practice.