ILO head praises Turkey’s treatment of Syrian refugees in offering work permits

Ahead of the World Humanitarian Summit in Istanbul, ILO Director-General Guy Ryder told state-run Anadolu Agency that “there are lessons that Europe should learn on the issue.” 

Turkey is one of the countries - with its open-door policy - from which Europe should take lessons,” Ryder said.

“I see it as a huge failure ... that Europe has not yet determined a common attitude on the refugee crisis … I would say that the international community has been insufficient in its response to Syrian refugees,” he added, stressing that more than 60 million people are currently displaced due to conflicts and violence across the world.      

Ryder stressed that officials needed to raise awareness about refugees’ rights in Turkey, which is thought to be hosting up to 3 million refugees. 

“At the end of January, the Turkish government passed a regulation to give work permits to refugees residing in Turkey. But [the latter] are not aware of this legislation,” he noted.        

He added that local governments and employment agencies need to develop their capacities and collect information about refugees’ professions to direct them to the right jobs.        

The ILO head stressed that all refugees have one shared demand. 

“All of them want to return to their homes safely and access schooling for their children and working opportunities,” Ryden said. 

He added that the first-ever World Humanitarian Summit in Istanbul represented a good chance to invite other countries to join the burden-sharing with regard to refugees.