Gaziantep factory accident kills 16-year-old worker

A 16-year-old worker, identified as Abdullah Omar Alobid, died following a workplace accident at the Seyit Polyester factory in the Gaziantep 3. Organized Industrial Zone. The incident reportedly involved a leak from a steam boiler that caused severe injuries, leading to the youth's death.

Following the fatality, EMEP Deputy Sevda Karaca submitted a parliamentary inquiry to the Turkish Grand National Assembly, requesting responses from Minister of Labor and Social Security Vedat Işıkhan. Karaca raised concerns regarding the employment of undocumented refugee children in heavy industries without safety precautions or insurance. The inquiry seeks data on the number of inspections conducted in the Gaziantep industrial zone, the number of illegal child laborers identified in the last year, and the frequency of fatal accidents involving refugee children in Turkey.

Local authorities and prosecutors have launched an investigation to determine if the accident was caused by technical failure, lack of maintenance, or insufficient occupational safety measures. The investigation will also examine the legality of the minor's employment and whether the factory provided necessary protective equipment and safety training.