Invisible risks in women's labour in agriculture: Product-based assessment of seasonal and resident labour force in Turkey

This study examines the working conditions and occupational health and safety (OHS) risks faced by women workers in the agricultural sector in Türkiye, with a focus on the production, harvesting, and product processing stages, and adopts a product-based approach. A systematic literature review was conducted, focusing on annual (wheat, cotton, corn, tobacco, rice) and perennial (grape, fig, tea, hazelnut, orange, almond, walnut, rose) products. It was determined that women workers are exposed to severe physical (musculoskeletal disorders), chemical (exposure to pesticides and nicotine), biological (plant sap, insect bites), and climatic (heatstroke, dehydration) risks not only during the harvest process but also during the product processing stages. In addition to challenges such as access to adequate shelter, hygiene facilities, and health services, especially during seasonal migration, gender-based risks faced by women workers (sexual harassment, discrimination, poor hygiene conditions, reproductive health problems, and social exclusion) further exacerbate their health and safety vulnerabilities. In the study, concrete policy recommendations were presented for developing product-based protective measures, improving seasonal migration conditions, expanding health screenings, and integrating women workers into the social security system.