Taking the Leap: Rami’s Inspiring Journey Through Uncertainty
Rami took a leap of faith. Amidst the turmoil in Syria, he made the difficult decision to abandon his studies and leave his country. Many warned him this would ruin his future, but he believed in himself.
A leap of faith
Rami’s life in Syria was filled with promise. As a civil engineering student, he was on the path to building a stable future in his homeland. However, the escalating turmoil in Syria turned his dreams into uncertainties. The decision to leave his country was not made lightly. Despite warnings that leaving without completing his studies could jeopardise his career, Rami chose to embark on a journey driven by the hope of finding safety and stability elsewhere.
Rami is working in his office in his company in Şanlıurfa. Many refugees face challenges while looking for jobs since companies are not familiar with the work permits procedures.
The tough beginning
Upon arriving in Şanlıurfa, Türkiye, Rami faced the immediate challenge of adapting to a new environment. He devoted a year to learning Turkish, a crucial step in navigating life in his new home. With determination, he secured a place at the University of Gaziantep, where he completed his bachelor’s degree. His pursuit of education did not stop there as he went on to study Business Administration as well. During that time, he had to work in various daily jobs to support himself and his family. Despite his qualifications, the reality of being a foreigner in a new country posed significant barriers. Employers were often reluctant to hire him, not due to his lack of skills, but because of the complexities of working as a Syrian refugee in Turkish labour market.
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Navigating the labour market as a refugee
Navigating the Turkish labour market as a Syrian refugee is fraught with complexities, not only due to the informal nature of the economy but also because of the regulatory barriers in place. Syrian refugees require a work permit to engage in formal employment, a process that is both bureaucratically cumbersome and poorly understood by refugees and employers alike. Moreover, the high prevalence of informal employment in Türkiye presents significant challenges, as formalising work often incurs additional costs for employers, making them less inclined to hire refugees through legal channels. These factors combine to further complicate access to legal employment, leaving many refugees vulnerable to exploitation in the informal sector, where they lack basic labour rights and protections.
Many employers are not aware of the required procedures of work permits applications, and they are not willing to take risks to employ foreigners who need such procedures.
Rami, a planning coordinator
The wind of change
In 2022, Rami’s life took a positive turn when he heard about the Danish Refugee Council (DRC) and its project Wage Subsidy (WS). Funded by the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) through the German Development Bank (KFW), the project assists refugees in getting matched with job opportunities in the private sector while helping companies with the work permit fees and contributing to wage payments in the first few months. Initially, Rami was prepared to accept an entry-level position as he desperately needed a job, but DRC recognised his potential and aimed to match him with a role that aligned with his educational background. Already fluent in Turkish and English, Rami was a perfect fit for a company struggling to find a person with English language skills for a planning coordinator position in Kahramanmaraş.
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The WS encourages business owners and employers to hire people in vulnerable situations, such as refugees and poor people from the host community.
Rami, a planning coordinator
Growing in a new field
Rami’s initial role in the company involved handling import orders and corresponding with international clients. Knowing how hard it is to get an opportunity like that, Rami was determined to prove his capabilities and work ethic. He acquired every necessary skill through working hard for long hours and taking online classes in the evenings. His efforts did not go unnoticed. Just months later, his employer promoted him to manage the whole planning department as the planning coordinator. Now, he oversees import orders, manages correspondence, inspects imported goods, secures resources, supervises production, and coordinates both with clients and importers.
This job made me feel stable. It is not only about having a work permit that protects my rights as an employee, but the job also made me enter the local job market. I feel I have a future here.
Rami, a planning coordinator
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Advocating for a future of stability and opportunity
Rami’s journey highlights the systemic challenges that refugees encounter in their quest for stability and self-reliance. While Rami’s determination and success despite the odds is commendable, it should not obscure the fact that countless others, often with high qualifications, remain trapped in a cycle of uncertainty, hindered by barriers that are often beyond their control. While DRC and its partners’ interventions play a crucial role in integrating refugees into the local economy, the work does not end here. There remains an urgent need to dismantle the barriers refugees face in the labour market. This would ensure that refugees can not only survive but thrive, contributing meaningfully to their new communities.