Designed for Control, Reproducing Informality: Lessons From Turkey's Labor Market Governance of Syrians
2026-05-05
The war in Syria and the forced displacement of millions of Syrians to Turkey triggered several policy challenges in the last 15 years, and one of them pertains to the Turkish labor market. The employment of Syrians under temporary protection (TP) reached a norm: widespread informality. While access to formal jobs became official in 2016, the policy design largely determined whether rights on paper translate into sustainable livelihoods, highlighting the importance of policy structure for long‐term outcomes. A new amendment introduced in late 2024 aims to address informality through a work permit exemption, which, for Syrians under TP, would be selective.