Social and solidarity economy in Türkiye
ILO promotes decent work for waste pickers
13 May 2024
Istanbul (ILO News) - In a concerted effort to bolster the formalization and inclusivity of waste management practices within Türkiye's green economy sector, officials from the International Labour Organization (ILO) Office for Türkiye have initiated a series of crucial engagements with waste pickers. These interventions encompass a range of activities, including meetings, technical advisory sessions, and training sessions.
The role of waste management in maintaining public health, preserving the environment, and enhancing resource efficiency cannot be overstated. Informal waste pickers have been playing a pivotal role in collecting, sorting, and recycling waste, thus significantly contributing to public health, sanitation, and environmental conservation at local, national, and international levels. Despite their essential contributions, workers in the informal economy, such as those in waste management, often lack social protection and formal recognition. Operating without access to financial services or representation, they face various risks, and transitioning from informality to formality is a slow and challenging process.
Recognizing cooperatives as pathways to formalization, the ILO Office for Türkiye has facilitated engagement between informal economy workers and relevant stakeholders. By strengthening collective representation, securing jobs and incomes, and facilitating access to basic services and social protection, cooperatives offer a means of transitioning workers, including waste pickers, into the formal economy.
The Association of Recycling Workers in İstanbul formed KATIK (1) Social Cooperative
As a significant development, the Association of Recycling Workers in İstanbul has established the KATIK Social Cooperative as of 7th of May 2024. This cooperative, formed with the support and collaboration of the ILO, aims to represent and comprise vulnerable groups, including Syrians under Temporary Protection, within the waste management sector through acceleration of green jobs incentives. Negotiations involving Green Economy Officer Ebru Okutan, Livelihoods Officer Ayşe Turunç Kankal, and various stakeholders have laid the groundwork for the cooperative's establishment, including discussions with municipal authorities, academic experts, and association representatives.
The establishment of KATIK Social Cooperative marks a milestone in efforts to promote decent work and sustainable livelihoods, particularly among Syrians under Temporary Protection and host communities. By responding to members’ economic, social and cultural needs, providing formal job opportunities, ensuring occupational safety and health measures, and extending social security benefits to its members, including refugees, fighting against child labour, and cooperating with municipalities, the cooperative seeks to contribute to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and foster social cohesion while increasing their contribution to protect the environment and to combat climate change.
Aligned with the 2024 International Day of Cooperatives theme, which emphasizes "Cooperatives Building a Better Future for All," the formation of KATIK Cooperative represents a tangible step towards realizing this vision. With technical and financial support from the ILO, the cooperative is poised to create formal employment opportunities for both host community members and Syrians under Temporary Protection in İstanbul, ultimately contributing to a more inclusive and sustainable future.
The technical and financial support are carried out through the gift of the United States Government and cooperation by the U.S. Department of State, Bureau of Population, Refugees and Migration under the Supporting Resilience and Social Cohesion with Decent Livelihood Opportunities Project.
(1) ATIK means WASTE. KATIK means BREAD.