International Irregular Migration and The Working Life: The Case of Syrian Immigrants in Sanliurfa Province

Abstract

The purpose of this study is to describe the case of working life affected by the international irregular migration caused by the Syrian civil war, which was started in 2011. The study was conducted in Sanliurfa province of Turkey, which is one of the most affected cities from the Syrian migration and where Syrian immigrants mostly reside. The research is designed as a case study. The empirical material of the study was generated using semi-structured interviews, which then descriptively analyzed and interpreted. Findings revealed that kinship and already-settled Syrian migrant population is found to be determinant on job finding and workplace choice, location selection for entrepreneurs, and decisions on migration destination. Current situation of the working conditions, reasons for employment, and the problems associated with working life experienced by immigrant workers were exposed.