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The fall of the Assad regime in Syria brought the future of the Syrian population in Türkiye into question, particularly concerning the 500,000 Syrian workers currently in the labor force.
Syrian workers, particularly favored in labor-intensive sectors for their willingness to accept lower wages, work long hours and often remain uninsured, have become vital to these industries. Many employers expressed concerns over the potential challenges of finding and training replacement workers should Syrians leave Türkiye, as this situation could result in a significant increase in personnel costs.
Official data shows that approximately 100,000 Syrians either receive or extend work permits annually. However, when accounting for unregistered workers, it is estimated that around 500,000 Syrians are currently employed.
Meanwhile, a study published by the International Labour Organization (ILO) in February 2023 revealed that Syrians predominantly work in the textile, industrial, construction, service, auto maintenance, and repair, leather products manufacturing, and food sectors, often informally. A field study conducted in Istanbul's textile sector indicated that all Syrian workers were uninsured.
According to the latest data from the Directorate General of Migration Management under the Türkiye’s Ministry of Interior, there are 2.94 million Syrian nationals under temporary protection in Türkiye. The total figure, including unregistered individuals, is estimated to be nearly 3.5 million.
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