Forced Migration in the OIC Member Countries:
Policy Framework Adopted by Host Countries
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of labor practices by authorities has meant employers feel little pressure to do so.47 Second,
the work permit directive includes a minimum quota of Turkish workers in all places of
employment that employ Syrians, and further requires businesses to cap the share of
temporary protection beneficiaries in their workforce at 10 percent.48 (The regulation
implementing the law requires has a lower cap, however, of five Turkish citizens per one
foreign worker.49) These quotas might force business owners to either fire Syrians or hire
more Turks in order to keep the ratio within government stipulations. As of May 2016,
however, sources did not believe that either the requirement to employ five Turks for every
foreigner, or the 10 percent cap has been enforced.50 Third, Syrians have little information
about their rights and the benefits of applying for work permits.51
The role of non-governmental actors in facilitating employment has been mostly confined to
training and job placement, occurring at multi-service centers and local NGO offices in large
cities near the border and in Istanbul. NGOs such as the Fair Labor Association and
SGDD/ASAM have created and distributed guides to inform protection beneficiaries about
their rights, and the Syrian Forum has organized three-day training courses to help
individuals understand their opportunities in local labor markets.52 Despite the stated
objective of the 3RP Syrian Regional Response Program, of which Turkey is a part, to involve
the private sector in generating stable employment for Syrian refugees, there have been very
few private sector partnerships to promote legal employment for Syrians.53
As the Turkish labor market shifts with the flood of informal Syrian workers, related policies
have had varying effects. In January 2016, the national government raised the minimum wage
by 30 percent to USD 440, a move that was said to benefit 5 million workers, but is also
thought to have resulted in the loss of 40,000 jobs in the textile industry and 30,000 in
agriculture.54 It is not hard to imagine that many of these jobs were phased out in favor of
informal contracts for Syrian workers at far lower wages. On the other hand, establishing a
new business is simple under Turkish law, which has created a new stream of employment
and investment in the country.55
Education
The Turkish government has recognized that whether temporary protection beneficiaries stay
in Turkey for generations or return home in the next few years, the education of young people
is critical to the creation of a sustainable future. The right of all children to obtain formal
education is codified in Article 42 of the Turkish Constitution.56 The Ministry of Education has
47 Serhan Alemdar (MALUMAT Program Advisor, Mercy Corps) in conversation with Kathleen Newland, May 2, 2016; Dr.
Ammar Kahf (Executive Director, OMRAN) in conversation with Kathleen Newland, May 5, 2016.
48 Geçici Koruma Sağlanan Yabancıların Çalışma İzinlerine Dair Yönetmelik (Regulation regarding the Work Permits of
Foreigners under Temporary Protection), Presidency of the Republic of Turkey, January 11, 2016.
49 Item 13 of the regulation on Law 4817. Communication from Ministry of Economy, August 17, 2016.
50 Dr. Ammar Kahf, in conversation with Kathleen Newland, May 5, 2016.
51 Grisgraber and Hollingsworth, Planting the Seeds of Success? Turkey’s New Refugee Work Permits.
52 Alpay Çelikel and Burcu Kuğu Bolak, in conversation with Kathleen Newland, May 5, 2016; İbrahim Vurgun Kavlak, in
conversation with Kathleen Newland, May 5, 2016.
53 Alp Biricik, in conversation with Kathleen Newland, May 6, 2016.
54 “Timing problem with Turkey’s minimum wage hike,” Hürriyet Daily News, January 8, 2016,
Alpay Çelikel and Burcu Kuğu Bolak, in conversation with Kathleen
Newland, May 5, 2016.
55 “FT: Suriyeliler yatırımlarıyla Türkiye ekonomisine katkı sağlıyor,” BBC Türkçe, May 17, 2016,
Dr. Ammar Kahf, in conversation
with Kathleen Newland, May 5, 2016.
56 Refugee Rights Turkey, Country Report: Turkey, 85.