Syrian refugees in seasonal agricultural work: a case of adverse incorporation in Turkey

Abstract

This article examines how the labor market in seasonal migrant work in agriculture in Turkey has changed with the influx of refugees from Syria. Based on both qualitative and quantitative fieldwork in ten provinces of Turkey, the article discusses precarity in seasonal migrant work in agriculture and the impact of the entry of refugees on this labor market. The analysis of precariousness of both Turkish-citizen migrant workers and refugees suggests that precarity is a relational phenomenon. The multifaceted vulnerabilities of groups in the lower echelons of the labor market resonate with one another and the adverse incorporation of vulnerable groups into the labor market pushes the market in a more insecure and informal direction.

The gift of hospitality and the (un)welcoming of Syrian migrants in Turkey

“…Syrians with an ID number were granted access to free health care and public education. They also had limited access to work permits; in practice, however, most employed Syrians are still in the informal sector (Kavak 2016; Lordoğlu 2016; Toğral Koca 2016). In 2017, a program of gradual naturalization started for a small, select group of Syrian migrants.…”

Kırsal Bölgelerde Göçmenlerin İşgücü Piyasasına Katılımı ve Yerel Ekonomiye Etkisi: Karacabey Örneği

“…Kâhyalar işçilerin barınma, yemek, şehir içi-şehir dışı ulaşım, tedavi gibi ihtiyaçlarını karşılar ve ücretlendirirler. Bu nedenle, kâhyaların artan etki ve pazarlık güçleri bulunmaktadır (Kavak, 2016;Dedeoğlu ve Bayraktar, 2019). Günlük yaşam pratiklerine bakıldığında ise çifte yük altında olan kadınların tarlada çalışmanın yanı sıra ev işleri ve çocuk bakımından sorumlu olduğu (Atasü-Topçuoğlu, 2019; Dedeoğlu ve Bayraktar, 2019), erkeklerin ise alışveriş ve kâhyalarla iletişimle ilgilendiği görülmektedir.…”

An analysis of the EU Seasonal Workers Directive in the light of two similar regimes: Three dimensions of regulated inequality

“…It lies beyond the scope of this article to fully analyse the notion of job vulnerability, the essence and definition of which is debated; 41 however it is essential to note that vulnerability is generally seen as a relational phenomenon, where group characteristics and the particular work environment have a large role to play. 42,43 The danger of precariousness is greater among seasonal workers because of group characteristics that reduce their bargaining power. The particular work environment in which they perform their tasks may also maximise the risk of precariousness, for example if health and safety conditions are poor.…”