SYRIAN MIGRANTS IN TURKISH LABOUR MARKET

Abstract

Turkey which is one of the border neighbours of Syria, is the most affected country by the refugee crises. However, until recently Syrian migrants residency has been regulated under non-permanent immigration status such as “guest migrant” or “temporary protected". Until Regulation on Work Permit of Refugees Under Temporary Protection issued in the Official Journal No. 2016/8375, legal working opportunities of refugees were not in question. In order to survive and to ensure their basic needs, they have entered into informal labour market. Most of the studies which are conducted both in the eastern region of Turkey and in biggest western cities have found that Syrian migrants are usually working in less favourable conditions than domestic labour , longer and more cheaply in many cases. As a result this migration flow engendered replacement of local workers by migrants and in some cases formalization of informal local labour.