Cotton Labor

IMPROVING WORKING CONDITIONS IN THE TURKISH COTTON SECTOR – PROJECT TOWARDS DECENT WORKING CONDITIONS IN COTTON FIELDS IN ŞANLIURFA

The project, carried out in two phases in collaboration with international brands, had its first phase begin in August 2017 and end in September 2019, while the second phase began in January 2020 and ended in April 2021.

Project Objectives:

• To increase cooperation with the public sector on decent working conditions and employment practices,

• Increasing the capacities of key actors,

• Mobilizing public and social services and local resources for the workforce in the cotton sector,

• Developing intervention methods at the field level.

Project Phase 1 Activities:

• Worker Demographic Profiling and Community Profiling Research

• Stakeholder Mapping

• Training and Capacity Building: Training was provided on 8 topics in 11 pilot field locations.

  • Learning Package and Decent Work

  • Basic Occupational Safety and Health

  • Advanced Occupational Safety and Health (OSH)

  • The Effects of Pesticides on Human Health and Reproductive Health

  • First Aid (Field Level)

  • First Aid Certificate Program (Provincial Health Directorate)

  • Disaster Management (Earthquake, Fire Drill)

  • Traditional Hat Making Techniques

• Field-Level Direct Improvement Interventions: Establishment and use of work and service contracts in pilot plots, Shade structures (fixed and mobile shade structures, specially designed regional hats), Learning Books, Child Labor and Education Posters, Farmer Awareness Sessions (field level), Farmer Awareness Meetings, Stakeholder Visits, Information Days (İŞKUR), Awareness Signs (OHS), Pre- and Post-Harvest Drinking Water Analyses.

• Collaboration with Local and National Stakeholders

• The project's results sharing meeting was held on February 13, 2019, in Şanlıurfa, with the participation of the Turkish Ministry of Family, Labor and Social Services and the Şanlıurfa Governorship.

Project second phase activities:

• The training materials created in the first phase have been improved and diversified. A website, www.pamuktaisgucu.com , has been launched, compiling these materials and serving as a resource for everyone working in the field.

• Capacity-building activities and collaborations were carried out in partnership with local institutions (Chambers of Agriculture, Turkish Red Crescent, Turkish Employment Agency, Çatom, Hayata Destek Association).

• Agricultural consultants provided training for farmers and workers, and one-on-one mentoring was offered to agricultural intermediaries.

• Documents containing findings and recommendations have been prepared to be shared with the relevant ministries.

• Work is underway on a Decent Work Placement Services Mechanism.

• The project's online results sharing meeting was held with the participation of the Ministry of Family, Labor and Social Services . https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Buo2cgAWp5c

For more information, you can visit pamuktaisgucu.com .