Section 1: Report
A recent incident occurred in the Tirebolu district of Giresun, where 15-year-old Yusuf Polat tragically drowned in the Harşit River, which flows into the Black Sea. Yusuf’s father, Metin Polat, stated that his son had gone to collect hazelnuts to meet his school needs and had dreams of pursuing an education in computer software. However, he was unable to fulfill his dreams. It is important to note that Yusuf was a child laborer, as he went to collect hazelnuts for his school needs. Experts consider the age of 15 as the minimum age for child labor, with younger ages being classified as child labor and ages above 15 as young labor. Yusuf was right on the threshold. Thousands of child laborers who work in activities such as hazelnut and cotton picking during the summer months lose their lives in work accidents. In Yusuf’s case, he lost his life while trying to cool off in the river. Just a week before this incident, another migrant child laborer lost his life when a vehicle crushed the tent he was sleeping in. Similarly, today, an 11-year-old girl in Şırnak lost her life when she was crushed under a tractor while working in agricultural fields.
According to the “Learning Poverty in Turkey” report prepared by the Republican People’s Party’s (CHP) Poverty Solidarity Office, 15% of children aged 10 are unable to read and understand a short and simple text. The rate of children who are out of school during primary education is around 5%. The report also reveals that the government avoids allocating funds to children’s education. While the expenditure per child in primary education in Turkey is $864, this amount is 89.7% below the average for Europe and Central Asia and 61.6% below the average for upper-middle-income countries. Instead of strengthening state schools to solve this problem, the government is busy leaving children in the hands of religious sect schools, while children of laborers are busy working.
Section 2: ESG Risks
1. Child labor: The content highlights the issue of child labor in Turkey, with specific examples of children as young as 11 and 15 working in hazardous conditions. This poses a risk to companies in terms of legal compliance with the German Supply Chain Due Diligence Act and can lead to reputational damage for businesses that are found to be using child labor in their value chains.
2. Occupational health and safety: The incidents mentioned in the content, including work accidents and fatalities among child laborers, indicate a lack of adequate occupational health and safety measures. This poses a risk to companies in terms of potential legal liabilities and reputational damage.
3. Education inequality: The report reveals a high percentage of children who are unable to read and understand basic texts, as well as a significant number of children who are out of school during primary education. This highlights the risk of education inequality and limited access to quality education in Turkey, which can have long-term social and economic implications.
Section 3: Vulnerable Groups
1. Child laborers: The content explicitly mentions children as vulnerable groups, as they are often forced to work in hazardous conditions, depriving them of their right to education and exposing them to various risks.
2. Migrant workers: The mention of migrant child laborers and their living conditions in tents indicates that migrant workers, including children, are vulnerable to exploitation and poor living conditions.
Section 4: Organizations
The content does not provide specific information about the companies involved or their roles in the identified ESG risks. Further investigation and research would be needed to identify the companies operating in the hazelnut and agricultural sectors in the mentioned regions.
Section 5: Regions
1. Tirebolu, Giresun: The incident of Yusuf Polat’s drowning occurred in this region.
2. Şırnak: The incident of the 11-year-old girl’s death under a tractor occurred in this region.
Section 6: Sectors
1. Hazelnut industry: The content mentions child laborers being involved in hazelnut picking, indicating a risk within the hazelnut industry.
2. Agricultural sector: The incidents mentioned, such as work accidents and fatalities, involve children and young workers in agricultural fields, highlighting risks within the agricultural sector.
Section 7: Keywords
Child labor, occupational health and safety, education inequality, vulnerable groups, hazelnut industry, agricultural sector.
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