ILO promotes decent work for waste pickers

Representatives from the International Labour Organization (ILO) Office for Türkiye have started important conversations with garbage pickers. They aim to help integrate waste management practices into Turkey's green economy sector. These efforts involve various activities like meetings, training sessions, and technical advice. It's vital to stress how crucial waste management is. It helps protect the environment, enhance resource efficiency, and safeguard public health.

Garbage pickers play a significant role in gathering, sorting, and recycling rubbish, benefiting local communities, the nation, and the world. Despite their valuable contributions to public health, sanitation, and environmental conservation, informal garbage pickers often lack social protection and official recognition. Working without guidance or access to financial services, they face various risks.

Transitioning from informal to formal work is challenging and time-consuming for workers in the informal economy, including those in waste management.