- विज्ञापन -
Gaziantep: As Syria shows signs of recovery from its long civil war, the return of Syrian refugees from Turkey is creating apprehension about potential labor shortages in vital Turkish industries that depend on low-wage workers. Beyhan Duran, a livestock farm manager in Gaziantep, highlighted that around 20-25% of their workforce consists of Syrian workers, and their mass return could significantly impact local businesses.
Gaziantep, a key Turkish city near the Syrian border, currently hosts approximately 450,000 Syrians. According to Metin Corabatir, the director of the Ankara-based Research Center on Asylum and Migration, about 1 million Syrians are engaged in the Turkish labor market, mainly in low-skilled, low-paid informal jobs.
With recent events prompting thousands of the 3 million Syrian refugees in Turkey to return home, many are still weighing their options as winter approaches. Corabatir noted that returnees are largely evaluating conditions in Syria, which is still recovering from years of conflict, before deciding whether to bring their families back.
While this shift might alleviate some financial burdens for Turkey, which has invested $40 billion in refugee support despite receiving EU aid, industries like agriculture and textiles could face challenges in filling the resulting labor gaps. Osman Ahmed, a 33-year-old Syrian telecom worker in Gaziantep, pointed out how some refugees are leaving due to Turkey’s economic difficulties, including rising rents, while others are opting to stay for stable employment.
There is also potential for some Syrian businesses to relocate operations back to Syria. Nonetheless, industry leaders like Adnan Unverdi of Gaziantep’s Chamber of Industry believe that the transition will be gradual. He stated that the pace of return would mirror the arrival of Syrian workers and that even if a significant number leave, a portion is likely to remain.
