Turkish textile association refutes claims over 'employment of Syrian children in factories'

The head of the Istanbul Readymade Clothing and Confection Exporters' Association (?HK?B) has denied reports claiming the employment of Syrian refugee children in factories operated by two leading European brands in Turkey. 

"It is impossible legally in Turkey to hire child labor. Besides, H&M and Next will never accept such production [practices]," the ?HK?B's Hikmet Tanr?verdi said in a written statement on Feb. 1. 

Britain's Independent claimed H&M and Next admitted to identifying child labor in supplier factories in Turkey on Feb. 1. After an effort to gauge the scale of the problem, the Business and Human Rights Resource Centre (BHRRC) had asked 28 major brands last month about their Turkish suppliers and their strategies for combating the exploitation of Syrian children and adults.

"We are ready to accept observers at each of our 14,000 exporters. I strongly condemn such reports that aim to harm our sector by throwing mud," added Tanr?verdi. 

He noted all international brands practice detailed and extensive controls over production in Turkey. 

"Even a minor problem is detected, and our producers cannot make exports to these brands," he said. 

Tanr?verdi noted there were around 35,000 confection manufacturers in Turkey and some 14,000 of them made exports.
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