CAOBISCO Press Release

Communication on concerns raised by NGOs on the working conditions in hazelnut orchards in Turkey

Added: 22 November 2011

CAOBISCO, the association of the chocolate, biscuit and confectionery industries of Europe, condemns the use of unlawful child labour and take the concerns about working conditions in hazelnut orchards in Turkey very seriously. CAOBISCO is in close contact with the Turkish government and supply chain partners and will continue to stimulate constructive dialogue, build awareness of the improvements that need to be made and will keep pressing for effective implementation and concrete results in the long term.

The proper legal and policy framework is in place in Turkey including the relevant International Labour Organisation (ILO) conventions. CAOBISCO and its members together with major exporters and buyers support the long-lasting, legitimate and comprehensive approach directed and executed by the Turkish government:

1. Turkish Government Action Plan to “Keep Children Away From Hazelnut Gardens in Provinces of Hazelnut Production”
2. Support the Turkish Government Action Plan to improve the working and social conditions of seasonal migratory workers

CAOBISCO and its members together with major exporters and buyers

1. encourage the Turkish government to ensure that:
       • ILO conventions are enforced in the hazelnut supply chain at farm level
       • An independent and reliable monitoring system is in place to report on the       progress achieved
2. Collaborate with all interested stakeholders to find solutions and to support the local economic and social development in Turkish hazelnut growing communities

CAOBISCO has developped industry-wide Responsible Sourcing Guidelines which encourage and support all members to:

• ensure that products and notably hazelnuts acquired through their suppliers have been obtained and transformed in full compliance with all local and other applicable laws, regulations and norms, as well as with the requirements established by the applicable International Conventions, Agreements and/or Declarations (ILO and UN Conventions and Human Rights Declaration);
• verify what concrete steps their suppliers have taken, work with suppliers to achieve the respect of the above clause and on improvements that need to be made throughout the supply chain;
• in the case there is undisputed evidence of non respect of the above clause to act together with the relevant local and/or national authority in order to resolve the issue

Most hazelnuts are grown on small family holdings of around two hectares in size. Turkey is the principal producer accounting for approximately 65% of the global supply. There are around 320,000 orchards in Turkey alone and at harvest time they rely on seasonal migrant labour to pick the crop. In short 8 Million people depend directly or indirectly on hazelnuts. CAOBISCO members do not source directly from these farms but from a small number of suppliers who obtain the nuts via a chain of middlemen.

ENDS