# Child labor fatalities in Turkish industry

> Live situation record from CLSTR: https://clstr.news/situations/child-labor-fatalities-in-turkish-industry
> Updated: 2026-09-15T16:56:09.000Z. Sources: 4. Developments: 2.

A series of fatal workplace accidents involving minors has raised concerns regarding child labor and occupational safety in Turkey.

In late August, a 15-year-old intern died from electrocution while laying cables at a construction site in the Çerkezköy district of Tekirdağ. Following the incident, political figures questioned whether vocational training programs were being used as a cover for child labor in hazardous environments.

In mid-September, a 16-year-old worker died at the Seyit Polyester factory in Gaziantep following a steam boiler leak. This fatality prompted a parliamentary inquiry into the employment of undocumented refugee children in heavy industries without adequate safety precautions or insurance. Investigations in both cases have focused on determining whether negligence, technical failures, or a lack of protective equipment contributed to the deaths.

## Timeline

### 2026-09-15: Gaziantep factory accident kills 16-year-old worker

A 16-year-old refugee child died in a steam boiler accident at a Gaziantep factory, prompting a parliamentary inquiry into child labor and safety inspections in Turkey.

2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/gaziantep-factory-accident-kills-16-year-old-worker

### 2026-08-25: Teenager dies from electrocution at Çerkezköy construction site

A 15-year-old intern, Eren Gündoğdu, died from electrocution at a construction site in Çerkezköy, Turkey, sparking calls for investigations into child labor and workplace safety.

2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/teenager-dies-from-electrocution-at-erkezky-construction-site

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Cite as: Child labor fatalities in Turkish industry. CLSTR, https://clstr.news/situations/child-labor-fatalities-in-turkish-industry