Periodic Reporting for period 1 - FMGESI (REFUGEES IN THE GLOBAL ECONOMY: SITUATION, ROLE, AND IMPLICATIONS: THE CASE OF SYRIAN REFUGEE WORKERS IN THE EXPORT INDUSTRY IN ISTANBUL)
Période du rapport: 2019-10-01 au 2021-09-30
The project “Refugees in the global economy: situation, role, and implications: the case of Syrian refugee workers in the export industry in Istanbul (FMGESI)¨ examines the employment conditions of refugee workers both to understand their role in the global economy as well as how these conditions impact their everyday life. These are the central issues of this research.
This understanding not only fills a gap in sociological literature in migration studies but is also necessary for society in general: understanding refugees’ subjectivities helps to challenge the prevalent view of refugees as damaged and traumatized people who only receive aid or exploit the social security system. Furthermore, it brings refugees' voices to the foreground, which otherwise are only ‘nominally’ considered. Importantly, it helps to communicate the suffering of refugees and workers in the informal economy (especially in the countries of the Global South where production is concentrated and relatively little research on refugees has been done in comparison with countries of the Global North). This contributes to a push for greater commitment towards appreciating their issues as refugees or workers. At the same time this sheds light on the dangers of the currently culture of consumption. Therefore, this research provides policymakers with more effective recommendations towards planning for refugees’ social and economic integration into their host countries.
Objectives of this Marie Skłodowska Curie Action (MSCA) have been to (1) Analyze both the working conditions and the labor market of the textile industry in Istanbul as well as the presence of Syrian refugees in the occupational structure of these companies. (2) Understand the perceptions of refugee workers in the textile industry regarding their living conditions. (3) Study their socio-spatial interactions inside and outside of the workplace. (4) Investigate their future expectations and plans.
This understanding not only fills a gap in sociological literature in migration studies but is also necessary for society in general: understanding refugees’ subjectivities helps to challenge the prevalent view of refugees as damaged and traumatized people who only receive aid or exploit the social security system. Furthermore, it brings refugees' voices to the foreground, which otherwise are only ‘nominally’ considered. Importantly, it helps to communicate the suffering of refugees and workers in the informal economy (especially in the countries of the Global South where production is concentrated and relatively little research on refugees has been done in comparison with countries of the Global North). This contributes to a push for greater commitment towards appreciating their issues as refugees or workers. At the same time this sheds light on the dangers of the currently culture of consumption. Therefore, this research provides policymakers with more effective recommendations towards planning for refugees’ social and economic integration into their host countries.
Objectives of this Marie Skłodowska Curie Action (MSCA) have been to (1) Analyze both the working conditions and the labor market of the textile industry in Istanbul as well as the presence of Syrian refugees in the occupational structure of these companies. (2) Understand the perceptions of refugee workers in the textile industry regarding their living conditions. (3) Study their socio-spatial interactions inside and outside of the workplace. (4) Investigate their future expectations and plans.
The project “Refugees in the global economy: situation, role, and implications: the case of Syrian refugee workers in the export industry in Istanbul (FMGESI)¨ is an assembly of five scientific and dissemination work packages (WP):
WP.1-Training literature review, and consulting secondary data: during this phase, the researcher received all of the necessary training through individual personalized ac-tion, including training to apply both qualitative and quantitative methods. He also received training to improve his working knowledge of several programs for data anal-ysis that he has not previously used. Other complementary–transferable skills include presentation skills, communication of research results to the non-specialist public, ad-vanced scientific writing, scientific networking, teaching, leadership or team manage-ment, task coordination.
WP.2-Field research: data collection (interviews). This period is dedicated to inter-viewing the refugee workers by using semi-structured in-depth interviews. At the end of this process, the researcher conducted 62 interviews: 42 male, and 20 females.
WP.3-Interviews transcription, and data analysis: this step occurred simultaneously with the previous step (data collection). All interviews were transcribed and analyzed directly after their realization. This stage included the preparation of the relevant parts of the draft.
WP.4-Publishing scientific articles: one scientific publication was published (Forced migrant’s sense of place: the case of Syrian refugee-workers in Istanbul, Turkey. In Work and Migration: Case Studies from Around the World. Transnational Press Lon-don, 2021). Two publications were sent to open-access journals; Vulnerable refugee groups in Istanbul´s textile industry: Syrian women and minors, and Syrian Refugees in Istanbul’s Clothing Industry.
WP.5-Management and dissemination: the researcher participated in various activities to present the results of this research. So far, he has published one article in Arabic and English and another article in Spanish and Arabic. That is in addition to oral presenta-tions at 10 international congresses.
This research achieves new advances in understanding the situation of Syrian refugee workers in Istanbul. It identifies ambiguity, extreme hyper-precarity, and segregation (since refugees mostly work in small workshops) as the most crucial concepts for understanding these conditions. The dimensions of socio-emotional well-being are dominated by depression and loss of control over life. Nonetheless, the personal (self) dimension (proud, optimistic, and staying positive with oneself) remains high. As a result, migration outside of Turkey emerges as a strategy to reach a place where regaining control over life becomes possible. Regarding the specific situation of the most vulnerable groups (women and minors), the research found that these refugees work in the lowest position in the organizational structures, usually as errand-boys (especially minors) and finishers (especially women) in the final stage of production. We also found that women prefer working in small workshops near home, because it offers them more flexibility and allows them to combine work with home-caring duties. However, the workshop owners often exploit their insecurity and need for more flexibility by drastically reducing their salaries under the guise of a compromise. This research also demonstrates the significance of spaces of encounters between employer-employee outside of the power relationships of the workplace to better understand workers’ experiences . Furthermore, it appeared that physical health seemed to occupy a central position in the discourses of women refugees about their well-being. At the same time, our research demonstrates the need to consider minors' claims of belonging as an urgent issue for their subjective wellbeing and integration.
WP.1-Training literature review, and consulting secondary data: during this phase, the researcher received all of the necessary training through individual personalized ac-tion, including training to apply both qualitative and quantitative methods. He also received training to improve his working knowledge of several programs for data anal-ysis that he has not previously used. Other complementary–transferable skills include presentation skills, communication of research results to the non-specialist public, ad-vanced scientific writing, scientific networking, teaching, leadership or team manage-ment, task coordination.
WP.2-Field research: data collection (interviews). This period is dedicated to inter-viewing the refugee workers by using semi-structured in-depth interviews. At the end of this process, the researcher conducted 62 interviews: 42 male, and 20 females.
WP.3-Interviews transcription, and data analysis: this step occurred simultaneously with the previous step (data collection). All interviews were transcribed and analyzed directly after their realization. This stage included the preparation of the relevant parts of the draft.
WP.4-Publishing scientific articles: one scientific publication was published (Forced migrant’s sense of place: the case of Syrian refugee-workers in Istanbul, Turkey. In Work and Migration: Case Studies from Around the World. Transnational Press Lon-don, 2021). Two publications were sent to open-access journals; Vulnerable refugee groups in Istanbul´s textile industry: Syrian women and minors, and Syrian Refugees in Istanbul’s Clothing Industry.
WP.5-Management and dissemination: the researcher participated in various activities to present the results of this research. So far, he has published one article in Arabic and English and another article in Spanish and Arabic. That is in addition to oral presenta-tions at 10 international congresses.
This research achieves new advances in understanding the situation of Syrian refugee workers in Istanbul. It identifies ambiguity, extreme hyper-precarity, and segregation (since refugees mostly work in small workshops) as the most crucial concepts for understanding these conditions. The dimensions of socio-emotional well-being are dominated by depression and loss of control over life. Nonetheless, the personal (self) dimension (proud, optimistic, and staying positive with oneself) remains high. As a result, migration outside of Turkey emerges as a strategy to reach a place where regaining control over life becomes possible. Regarding the specific situation of the most vulnerable groups (women and minors), the research found that these refugees work in the lowest position in the organizational structures, usually as errand-boys (especially minors) and finishers (especially women) in the final stage of production. We also found that women prefer working in small workshops near home, because it offers them more flexibility and allows them to combine work with home-caring duties. However, the workshop owners often exploit their insecurity and need for more flexibility by drastically reducing their salaries under the guise of a compromise. This research also demonstrates the significance of spaces of encounters between employer-employee outside of the power relationships of the workplace to better understand workers’ experiences . Furthermore, it appeared that physical health seemed to occupy a central position in the discourses of women refugees about their well-being. At the same time, our research demonstrates the need to consider minors' claims of belonging as an urgent issue for their subjective wellbeing and integration.
This research focuses on the experience of refugee workers using methodologies based mainly on their views. The results of the research provide valuable and innovative information toward understanding refugee workers’ conditions in the garment industry in general in the countries of the Global South, especially those of Syrian refugee workers in Turkey. This research provides a better understanding of conditions of the most marginalized refugee groups (women and children), which are usually invisible Because these groups are otherwise studied as a category among refugees, immigrants, or workers, they are usually invisible.
As a whole, this research presents a rich opportunity for all who are interested in or working on migration issues, i.e. scientists, politicians, NGOs, European diplomats or Euro-parliamentarians, business and labor unions, etc., and even those interested in environmental issues. All can benefit from its results, since it raises awareness of the dangers of the prevailing consumer culture and industrial relocation: both have negative effects on working conditions as well as the environment. This research will allow them to make better plans for intervention while considering the specific needs of these vulnerable refugee groups. This applies especially for those projects and programs aimed to fight labor exploitation, child labor, female labor, environmental sustainability, and the integration of refugees in countries of the Global South.
As a whole, this research presents a rich opportunity for all who are interested in or working on migration issues, i.e. scientists, politicians, NGOs, European diplomats or Euro-parliamentarians, business and labor unions, etc., and even those interested in environmental issues. All can benefit from its results, since it raises awareness of the dangers of the prevailing consumer culture and industrial relocation: both have negative effects on working conditions as well as the environment. This research will allow them to make better plans for intervention while considering the specific needs of these vulnerable refugee groups. This applies especially for those projects and programs aimed to fight labor exploitation, child labor, female labor, environmental sustainability, and the integration of refugees in countries of the Global South.