İnşaat Sektöründe Suriyeli ve Afgan Emeğinin Güvencesiz ve Kuralsız Hâli: Manisa İli Örneği(The Irregularity and Insecurity Situation of Syrian and Afghan Labor in the Construction Sector: The Case of Manisa Province)

Abstract

Changes in the mode of production due to globalization, neo-liberal policies, and technological developments have created major economic-political transformations in societies. Within this framework, when social problems in working life, such as flexibility, social insecurity, poor working conditions, and lack of occupational health and safety, are considered based on sectors, the construction sector comes to the forefront. The construction sector also has an essential role in affecting production areas in the economy, economic and social development, and creating employment for a significant part of the population. However, due to non-compliance with labor relations, occupational health, and safety measures, the construction sector is a business line where work accidents and occupational diseases are experienced intensely, temporary, uninsured, informal, short-term jobs, insecurity, and irregularity. In addition to the unemployment and poverty dimensions of the construction sector, every year, thousands of workers in Turkey become incapable of work due to occupational diseases, die, get injured, or get sick due to work accidents. This study conducted qualitative research for workers and employers regarding job security/insecurity, unregistered employment, and occupational health in the construction sector in Manisa province. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with fifteen Syrian and Afghan workers residing in Manisa and working in the construction industry. As a result of the research regarding migrant labor in the construction sector, informal economy, low wages, long working hours, zero-hours contracts, work accidents, occupational diseases, occupational health and safety inadequacies, and precarious working conditions such as stratified labor markets have been identified

Keywords

• construction industry
• insecurity
• unlawful working
• manisa