Question to the Department for International Development:

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what steps her Department is taking to encourage the Government of Turkey to improve (a) working conditions, (b) safety standards and (c) pay for Syrian refugees employed in garment factories in Turkey.

Since 2016, the UK has contributed €328 million to the €3 billion EU Facility for Refugees in Turkey (FRIT) which includes the provision of socio-economic support for refugees in Turkey. Through this mechanism, we ensure that the most vulnerable Syrian refugees are able to meet their basic needs and support their integration into the Turkish economy.

Presently, the vast majority of Syrian refugees in Turkey work in the informal sector. While such employment is vital to support refugees’ basic needs, through FRIT the UK is working closely with the Turkish authorities to bring more refugees into the formal labour market where working conditions, safety standards and pay are regulated, and refugees are entitled to access social services.