TRANSNATIONAL COMPANIES, HUMAN RIGHTS DUE DILIGENCE AND SYRIAN REFUGEES: A CASE STUDY OF TURKEY

Yıl 2021, Cilt: 6 Sayı: 10, 1 - 19, 30.03.2021

Tülay Yıldırım Mat Abdurrahman Erol

Öz

The legal status provided to Syrian refugees in Turkey is called temporary protection. It is not the same as the refugee status and it provides more limited rights and opportunities. After all these years since the start of the mass migration of Syrians to Turkey, it has become clear that this temporary legal status complicates the living and work conditions of these people, who apparently will be staying in Turkey in the mid to long term future. Particularly in terms of work life, Syrian refugees are faced with challenges not only in obtaining legal work permits, but also in finding jobs with decent working conditions even if they have work permits. Being one of the primary sectors where Syrian workers are present, the ready-made garment (RMG) sector in Turkey has this problem as well. In this respect, in order to improve the working conditions of the Syrian workers, there are some measures that transnational textile companies sourcing from Turkey. For one, if these transnational companies (TNCs) conduct human rights due diligence (HRDD) over the working conditions and human rights enjoyment throughout their supply chains in Turkey, there could be significant improvements in the conditions of these Syrian workers. To this end, in this study, after providing some explanations on the legal status of Syrian workers in Turkey and their working conditions in the RMG sector, recommendations will be offered on what measures TNCs can take as a part of their HRDD over their supply chains in Turkey in order to improve working conditions of the Syrian workers.

Anahtar Kelimeler

Syrian refugees, Temporary protection, Migration policy, TNCs, Work permit

Kaynakça

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