Turkey’s Textile Industry Faces Uncertainty Over Potential Syrian Worker Departure

Turkey’s textile industry is grappling with growing concerns over labor shortages as discussions about the potential departure of Syrian migrants intensify.

Industry leaders warn that a sudden exodus could severely impact production costs and workforce availability, particularly in the country’s southern regions, where the sector is concentrated.

"The Syrians have made a big contribution to the textile sector here. If they leave, there will be a serious labor problem," said Ali Gözcü, owner of ALG Tekstil, a clothing manufacturer in Gaziantep—a southeastern city that hosts around half a million Syrians. With 70% of his workforce consisting of Syrian workers, Gözcü fears the consequences of their departure. "We don't expect them to leave all at once, but if they do, we will suffer a serious labor loss," he told AFP.

His concerns are echoed by others in the industry. Yusuf Şamil Kandil, a quality controller at Beni Giy clothing, highlighted the dependency on Syrian workers in Unal, a district lined with textile workshops and garment shops. "All of the workers here are Syrian," he said. "If they leave, our labor costs will rise significantly, along with production expenses."

Turkey ranks as the world's sixth-largest textile producer, with much of its industry based in the southern provinces that accommodate most of the country’s 2.9 million Syrian migrants. Official data indicates that around 100,000 Syrians hold work permits. However, experts estimate that nearly a million are employed, primarily in informal, labor-intensive sectors such as construction, manufacturing, and textiles.

The departure of this workforce could exacerbate existing economic pressures, with the textile industry already facing inflation-driven cost increases. So far, government figures show that over 81,000 Syrians have returned. However, a significant rise in departures is expected around the Eid al-Adha holiday in June, raising further concerns about the sector’s stability.