Syrian refugees trigger child labour boom in Turkey

The seven-year-old boy has been working in the small bakery ever since his family of five fled from Aleppo in Syria.

"I really want to go to school, I like school," he says, now balancing a basket full of firewood. "But my mother won't enrol me. She says we need the money to eat."  


The oldest of three siblings, Hamza works six days a week, often up to 12 hours a day, to support his family. His mother begs on the street. "My father is hurt and cannot find work here," he says. "Life in Turkey is very expensive."
His two child colleagues, brothers from Hama, are 12 and 13. Both have been working in the bakery ever since they came to Turkey more than six months ago. "I would rather go to school," said 12-year-old Nasir.
The rent for the two rooms they share with 23 family members is 750 Turkish lira (£209) a month. "We need to contribute to the family income," says Nasir.