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Agricultural Supply Chains

Agriculture stands as a vital sector globally, contributing significantly to economic growth, food production, and employment opportunities. It not only supplies raw materials for various industries but also serves as a crucial income source in rural areas, employing a substantial workforce, particularly in developing countries.

In Türkiye, the agricultural sector holds a considerable weight in exports and it is among the high-risk sectors in terms of human rights, especially due to working and living conditions in seasonal agriculture and gaps in legislation. In the Turkish agricultural sector, key human rights risks include child labour, unregistered/irregular employment, forced labour, violations of occupational health and safety regulations, and gender inequality.

Seasonal agriculture, in particular, involves seasonal agricultural migrant workers, many of whom are refugees, moving with their families to different regions of the country from crop to crop, engaging in agricultural activities for the majority of the year. Children often accompany their families, enduring extended periods away from school, engaging in child labour, and facing various safety and health risks related to agricultural work.

Unregistered/irregular employment is another prevalent issue in agriculture. Workers frequently endure long hours for low wages without formal contracts, depriving them of social security benefits. Vulnerable groups, including women, children, and refugees, are disproportionately affected by this challenge. Additionally, violations of occupational health and safety standards both in workspace and living space are widespread in the agricultural sector. Agricultural machinery and chemicals also pose significant risks, leading to occupational accidents and diseases.

In order to ensure human rights compliance of local and foreign companies in agricultural supply chains and to address sector-specific human rights risks, BHRTR conducts supply chain mapping and human rights impact and risk assessments, prioritising child protection, human rights practices, occupational health and safety, and gender equality.

Within this framework, BHRTR conducts tailored capacity-building training for various actors in the supply chain and encourages active participation from all stakeholders, ensuring a comprehensive approach to risk management. Additionally, BHRTR collaborates with supply chain actors and non-governmental organisations to develop remedial and preventive measures to address identified risks.