Giving Labour Rights the Boot: Working Conditions in the Turkish Shoe Industry
11.01.2018
Report from Turkish leather and footwear industry
Turkey is one of the world’s largest economies. After the automotive sector, the textile, garment, footwear and leather industry1 is the second-largest contributor to the country’s exports.
With a workforce of over two million it is by far Turkey’s most labour-intensive industrial
branch. Turkey is a key producer for European brandname companies and the country’s economic geography is extremely diverse.
This study examines the working conditions in the Turkish footwear and leather industry. Twenty workers were interviewed as part of the ‘Change Your Shoes’ campaign.