Turkish labor ministry to assess potential economic impact of Syrians returning
File photo shows a textile factory where numerous workers, primarily women, are engaged in garment production in Türkiye. (IHA Photo)
Türkiye’s Labor and Social Security Ministry will conduct a study to assess the potential economic impact of Syrian individuals under temporary protection returning to their home country, according to a three-year National Employment Strategy document.
The document, which was published in the Official Gazette on Feb. 1, indicated that while it remains difficult to estimate the number of returning Syrians at this stage, the impact on the labor market could be immediate and pronounced, affecting the balance of labor supply and demand.
To ensure the sustainability of labor supply and employment, the report emphasized the need for policy measures and structural improvements that enable the labor market to adapt to changing conditions. “Effectively managing return processes would not only help maintain market stability but also contribute to the creation of a more inclusive and resilient labor force,” the report noted.
The document further highlighted efforts to analyze the potential impact of returning Syrians on the labor market and develop concrete, actionable policies to manage these effects.
Over 81,000 Syrians returned
As part of this initiative, a detailed analysis will be conducted in 2025 to assess the labor market implications of the return process for Syrians under temporary protection, according to the document.
The ministry’s study will examine sectoral and regional shifts, the impact on the local workforce, and changes in labor supply and demand, ultimately leading to the formulation of policy recommendations.
In Türkiye, foreign nationals are required to obtain a work permit to be employed either independently or under an employer, as administrative sanctions are imposed in cases of unauthorized employment. In this regard, planned inspections and audits of workplaces employing foreign workers will also take into account the sectors where foreign labor is concentrated.
According to the labor ministry’s statistics, as of 2023, the number of foreign workers with valid work permits stood at 239,835, with 108,520 of them being Syrians.
On Jan. 29, Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya reported that following the collapse of the Assad regime, a total of 81,576 Syrians have voluntarily returned to their country, while the number of Syrians who have voluntarily returned has reached 821,579 since 2017.
