Syrian Refugees and Labour Market

Syrian refugees received vocational training certificates within the framework of ILO's projects

46 graduates received Welding and CNC programming training certificates as part of ILO’s projects for Syrian refugees and host communities jointly carried out with District Governorate of Harran, the South-eastern Anatolia Project (GAP) Regional Development Administration, Şanlıurfa Union of Chambers of Tradesmen and Craftsmen.

Haberler | 21 Nisan 2016 Perşembe
Welding training graduates are ready for participating in employment

Numan Özcan, Director of International Labour Organization (ILO) Office for Turkey, Muharrem Gözüküçük, Head of Department for Work Permits of Foreigners Ministry of Labour and Social Security, visited Harran and Şanlıurfa to observe the ongoing trainings and present the certificates to trainees who have successfully completed the vocational trainings.

Currently total number of 250 Syrians and host community members are attending to the Turkish language courses and vocational trainings within the scope of the ILO’s strategy to improve livelihoods and decent work opportunities for Syrian refugees and host communities as well as combating child labour and empowering women.

Vocational trainings are taking place in Şanlıurfa, Gaziantep and Kilis in collaboration with Ministry of Labour and Social Security, Ministry of Education, Ministry of Family and Social Policies, the Disaster and Emergency Management Authority (AFAD), Directorate General of Migration Management, Yunus Emre Institute, employers’ and workers’ organizations, non-governmental organizations and universities.

ILO mission visited Parmaksız Multipurpose Community Center of GAP Regional Development Administration.
Turkish language courses, Welding, CNC programming, Patient Admission Services and Hairdressing trainings were launched in the first phase. Trainings and courses are taking place at 5 different centers in coordination with District Governorate of Harran, GAP Regional Development Administration, Şanlıurfa Union of Chambers of Tradesmen and Craftsmen.


Welding trainings for Syrian refugees were successfully completed with 26 trainees and a new group of 20 trainees have already started in Harran District in cooperation with District Governorate of Harran. Moreover, Turkish language courses for 30 female Syrian trainees in Harran District and for 40 Syrian male trainees in Harran Temporary Sheltering Center in cooperation with Yunus Emre Institute.

2nd term Welding trainings started at Harran District.

CNC Programing training was completed with 20 trainees from the host community and Welding training has started with 20 Syrian trainees in Şanlıurfa Evren Industrial Zone Vocational Training Center in cooperation with Şanlıurfa Union of Chambers of Tradesmen and Craftsmen.Furthermore, it is planned that Plastic Pipe Installation, Inert-gas welding, Auto Tire Repairment and CNC Programming trainings will be carried out in April and May.


CNC programming trainings are being carried out in Şanlıurfa Union of Chambers of Tradesmen and Craftsmen Vocational Training Center



Ali Balkesen has received his CNC Programming certificate from Numan Özcan, Director of International Labour Organization (ILO) Office for Turkey

Turkish language courses are being carried out for 56 Syrian women in Şanlıurfa Ahmet Yesevi and Parmaksız Multipurpose Community Centres in cooperation with GAP Regional Development Administration. Hairdressing and Patient Admission Services trainings will also take place in April 2016. It is aimed at reaching 100 women in both Multi-Purpose Community Centers.

Successful trainees received their certificates for Welding and CNC Programming on 14 April 2016 in Şanlıurfa. Before the certification ceremony, Numan Özcan, Director of International Labour Organization (ILO) Office for Turkey stated that the primary goal of the ILO is to promote opportunities for women and men to obtain decent and productive work and underlined the importance of sharing responsibilities in tackling the biggest refugee crisis both at national and international levels. Numan Özcan also expressed his satisfaction for the valuable work and ongoing collaboration between the national stakeholders and the ILO on the ground in improving livelihoods for host communities and Syrian refugees.

Syrian women are attending Turkish language courses.

Muhammed Hamud has received his Welding certificate from Numan Özcan, Director of International Labour Organization (ILO) Office for Turkey

New trainees started on the second term welding trainings (theoretical and practical) at Şanlıurfa Union of Chambers of Tradesmen and Craftsmen Vocational Training Center

Certificates Issued by Ministry of National Education

Training programmes are being carried out based on training modules of Directorate General of Life Long Learning under the Ministry of National Education (MoNE) and the communication between Syrian trainees and trainers is ensured through interpreters.
At the end of the trainings, each trainees will receive a certificate issued by the MoNE and have a better Turkish language skill which will facilitate their participation to the formal employment.

Multi-component project strategy to research, to inform and to educate

ILO’s strategy for Syrian refugees in Turkey consists of 5 components. It is aimed to develop integrated solutions for the problems at work encountered by Syrian refugees.
  • To facilitate tripartite (government, employers’ and worker’s organizations) consultations for developing national policies
  • To develop a knowledge base to solve labour market challenges through surveys, researches and impact analyses
  • To support institutional and technical capacities of relevant public institutions at national and local level to better tackle the labour market challenges
  • To carry out the skills development and vocational trainings and activities on supporting local economic development for increasing the employability of Syrian refugees and host communities, to combat child labour and informal employment
  • To raise awareness on the labour market challenges and opportunities as well as legislative measures for Syrians and host communities in the target provinces
*** Within the scope of the ILO’s strategy, the current activities for Syrian refugees and host communities are financially supported by ILO’s own resources and the Bureau of Population, Refugees, and Migration (PRM) of the U.S. Department of State, PRM.