The number of children engaged in economic activities in the 5-17 age group was 720 thousand persons in Turkey

The research called “Working Child Statistics” was conducted in the IV.Quarter of 2019 (October-November-December) with the Household Labour Force Survey for 5-17 age group children.This research includes differences in terms of scope and methodology with the previously conducted Working Child Surveys. These differences are the arrangements in 2014 Household Labour Force Survey structure and the inclusion of the 5-17 age group on working child statistics of the International Labour Organization. The term “working child” in this press release refers to “children engaged in economic activities”.

The number of children engaged in economic activities in the 5-17 age group was 720 thousand persons

In Turkey, the number of children in the 5-17 age group were estimated at 16 million 457 thousand persons. Children in this age group were 20.3% of the non-institutional population. By age groups, the number of children in the 5-11 age group was estimated 9 million 12 thousand, 3 million 796 thousand in the 12-14 age group and 3 million 649 thousand  children in the 15-17 age group.

The number of children engaged in economic activities was 720 thousand persons and no 5 year old child was observed among them. Employment rate which shows the proportion of working children in the 5-17 age group among children in the same age group was estimated at 4.4%.

Basic indicators of children engaged in economic activities, 5-17 age group, Quarter IV: October-December, 2019

79.7% of working children were in the 15-17 age group

While 79.7% of working children were in the 15-17 age group, 15.9% were in the 12-14 age group and 4.4% were in the    5-11 age group. When examined by gender, it was seen that 70.6% of working children were male and 29.4% were female.

65.7% of working children also continued their education

While 65.7% of working children were attended an education, this rate was 65.6% for male and 66.1% for female. According to age groups; 72.0% of working children in the 5-14 age group and 64.1% of the working children in the 15-17 age group also continued an education. 34.3% of working children did not continue their education.

Children engaged in economic activities by educational attendance, 5-17 age group, Quarter IV: October-December, 2019

Children engaged in economic activities by educational attendance, 5-17 age group, IV. Quarter: October-December (%), 2019

35.9% of working children worked to help in household’s economic activity

When the reason of working for children engaged in economic activities are listed; “to help in household’s economic activity” was the first place with 35.9%, and others were “to learn a proffession and skills for a job” with 34.4%, “to contribute household income” with 23.2% and “to support him/herself needs” with 6.4%”.

Children engaged in economic activities by reason of working, 5-17 age group Quarter IV: October-December (%), 2019

45.5% of working children took part in service sector

30.8% of working children took part in agriculture, 23.7% was in industry and 45.5% was in service sector. According to age groups; children working in the 5-14 age group gained weight in the agricultural sector with 64.1%, while children working in the 15-17 age group gained weight in the service sector with 51.0%.

Working children by branch of economic activity, 5-17 age group, Quarter IV: October-December, 2019

63.3% of working children worked as regular or casual employees

63.3% of working children worked as regular or casual employees, 36.2% of them worked as unpaid family workers and 0.5% of them worked as self-employed.

Working children by status in employment, 5-17 age group, Quarter IV: October-December, 2019

66.0% of working children worked at a regular/fixed workplace

According to the type of workplace, 66.0% of the working children was at regular/fixed workplaces, 30.4% of them worked in the field/garden, 3.0% of them worked in the mobile, irregular or market place, 0.5% of them worked at home.

Working children by type of work place, 5-17 age group, Quarter IV: October-December, 2019

12.9% of working children worked in an extremely hot/cold or in an excessive humidity/no humidity environment

When the factors that negatively affect physical health are examined in the workplace; 12.9% of working children worked in an extremely hot/cold or in an excessive humidity/no humidity environment, 10.8% of them was exposed to chemicals, dust, fumes, smoke or gases, 10.1% of them was difficult work postures or movements and handling heavy loads and 10.0% of them was exposed to noise or strong vibrations.

It was determined that 6.4% of working children face the risk of accidents in their workplace and 4.6% of them was at risk for eye strain and visual concentration in their workplace.

Factors that negatively affect physical health in the workplaces, 5-17 age group, Quarter IV: October-December (%), 2019

1.3% of working children were exposed any injuries at their workplace

While 1.3% of of working children were exposed to “any injuries” at their workplace, 4.4% of them witnessed “any injuries” at their workplace. The rate of those who experienced “any discomfort arising from the working conditions in the workplace” was 0.6%, while the rate of those who witnessed this situation was 2.2%. While 0.1% of working children were exposed to physical, verbal violence or unpleasant behavior at their workplace, the rate of those witnessed this situation was 1.5%.

Unfavorable factors that affect/may affect in workplace, 5-17 age group, IV. Quarter: October-December (%), 2019

The rate of children contributing to household chores was 45.5%

Children who help their families with household chores such as shopping, cleaning, cooking, ironing, etc. or caring younger children or an elderly/disabled/ill persons in the household, refer to children supporting their families. They are not covered by the working child. In this context, 45.5% of children in the 5-17 age group contributed to their families in any of the household chores. This rate was 40.0% for male and 51.3% for female.

While 43.5% of the children helped their families with household chores in “shopping for households, laundry-dishwashing, ironing, cooking, cleaning of household items”. 23.2% children assisted their family in “caring for younger children in the household” and 5.4% of them helped their family in “caring for elderly/disabled/ill person in the household”.

Children by the type of household chores done, 5-17 age group, Quarter IV: October – December, (%) 2019

40.2% of children contributing to household chores spent 2 hours and less per week

Children contributing to their families in household chores spent 5.8 hours on average in reference week. While 40.2% of the children who help their families with household chores spent 2 hours and less on household chores in the reference week, 37.0% of them was 3-7 hours, 14.5% of them was 8-14 hours, 5.4% of them spent 15-20 hours, 3.0% of them spent 21 hours or more in the reference week.

When examined by gender; females were observed to spend more time on household chores. 16.3% of males and 28.3% of females contributed to housework 8 hours or more in a week.

Children contributing to household chores by weekly actual hours in reference week, 5-17 age group, Quarter IV: October-December, 2019

                                                                                                                                                                                   
EXPLANATIONS
The results published in this press release includes 40^th-52^ndweeks period including October, November and December 2019.