Tens of thousands on the streets, at risk

After three of those who lost their lives in a workplace murder in the Dilovası district of Kocaeli were children , the spotlight has once again turned to the reality of child labor in Turkey.

The data from the Ministry of Labor and Social Security , which has been criticized for its lack of control, has once again revealed a striking picture.

Mobile teams affiliated with the Ministry of Labor and Social Security conducted screenings for children identified as working on the streets between January 2024 and June 2025. The screenings, conducted by 393 teams across all 81 provinces in Türkiye, yielded striking results. Inspections targeting children working on the streets and at risk began on June 12, 2017. According to data from the Ministry of Labor and Social Security, the number of children identified and treated between June 12, 2017, and December 31, 2024, reached 51,808.

Children forced to work or beg on the streets are at risk of neglect, abuse, or even turning to crime. It was reported that legal action was taken against 1,731 of the children identified between January 2024 and June 2025. A total of 771 children were reportedly taken from their families and sent to institutions for care.

THE DANGER IN MESEM

The number of deaths and accidents at MESEMs , which are used as legal cover for the forced labor of children by the state and the transfer of resources to employers, has also drawn attention. According to official data from the Ministry of National Education (MEB), 1,348 "accidents," including 10 fatalities, occurred within the MESEM program, which includes children in vocational training.