Workplace Fatality in Eskişehir: Two 17 and 16-Year-Old Seasonal Workers Drown in the Sakarya River

Eskişehir – A new tragedy has been added to Turkey's painful record of workplace fatalities. Mehmet Yardımcı, 17, and Mehmet Işık, 16, two seasonal agricultural workers who came with their families from Viranşehir, Şanlıurfa, to the Sarıcakaya district of Eskişehir, drowned in the Sakarya River while trying to cool down after working in the field. This tragic event once again revealed the dire conditions of seasonal agricultural workers and child labor.

Two Young Lives Lost from Viranşehir

According to information announced by the ISIG Council (Occupational Health and Safety Council), Mehmet Yardımcı and Mehmet Işık had traveled hundreds of kilometers to Eskişehir to contribute to their families' livelihoods. The teenagers, working in harsh conditions under extreme heat, entered the Sakarya River to cool off during a short break. This innocent attempt to find relief tragically ended in their deaths. The incident caused great sorrow among other workers and families in the region.

Escape from the Heat Ends in Death

One of the greatest dangers faced by agricultural workers, especially in the summer months, is extreme heat. In situations where adequate rest areas and proper working conditions are not provided, workers are forced to use natural water sources to cool down. The deaths of Mehmet Yardımcı and Mehmet Işık are described as a "workplace fatality," a result of the lack of supervision and precarious working conditions in the seasonal agricultural sector. This incident once again highlighted the failure of employers and relevant public institutions to fulfill their vital responsibilities regarding occupational health and safety.

The Reality of Seasonal Agricultural Work and Child Labor

The fact that the young people who lost their lives were under 18 also brings the issue of child labor to the forefront. Child labor is widespread in Turkey's agricultural sector, which violates both national and international conventions. This tragic event serves as concrete proof of the great risks involved when children are deprived of their right to education and development due to economic hardships and are forced to work in heavy and dangerous jobs.

A Call to Authorities and the Public

The ISIG Council and other union organizations emphasize that such events are not "accidents" but are the result of preventable negligence. In their calls to the public, authorities, and employers, they demanded the urgent provision of humane working and living conditions for seasonal agricultural workers, the complete elimination of child labor, and the effective implementation of occupational safety inspections.