Turkish government reviewing labor map to find room for Syrians

Hacer Boyacıoğlu ANKARA

More than 900,000 Syrian refugees are living outside camps, according official figures. AFP Photo

Turkish officials have confirmed they are studying a “vacancy map” to outline which areas and sectors in the country need Syrian employment, with the Labor Ministry and Interior Ministry working on a code to facilitate employment possibilities for Syrian refugees.

According to current regulations, Syrians who have a residence permit are also able to obtain work permits if they apply to the Labor Ministry.

However, the government has been working to come up with a scheme that will also enable Syrian refugees without a residence permit to work in Turkey as well.

Gaziantep Mayor Fatma Şahin said the legal framework and details of the labor regulation would be announced by the end of August.

However, according sources close to the matter, a Cabinet decision is first needed to proceed with the studies.

The Cabinet will need to decide which sectors and provinces Syrians will be allowed to work in, so the map highlighting job vacancies and worker needs across Turkey will be decisive in the Cabinet’s decision.