Abstract:

In this study, it is aimed to determine the living and working conditions and income levels of the people employed in the agricultural sector in Sarıoğlan district of Kayseri province. Agricultural workers in the study area were examined as seasonal or foreign labour. A survey was conducted with 76 families working in the agricultural sector in Sarıoğlan district. Of the families interviewed, 41 (53.9%) were those families who came to the district from other provinces as seasonal workforce, and 35 (46.1%) were from foreign workforce. The foreign workforce consisted of 62.9% Syrian , 31.4% Afghan and 5.7% Iraqi families. In the study area, while seasonal workers were generally employed in crop production, foreign workers were employed in both crop production and other works, primarily animal husbandry. All members of the foreign workforce resided in the district. Seasonal workers were housed in areas without basic infrastructure services and seasonal agricultural workers did not sufficiently benefit from basic health services (68.3%). Among these people, the rate of those who did not have adequate and balanced nutrition was 63.4%. In addition, it was determined that children could not benefit from education opportunities as required (53.7%). In the research, it was found that seasonal or foreign workers were hired by the employer without taking occupational health and safety measures (80.5%). The workers had neither social security (87.8%) nor job guarantees (53.7%) and were paid low wages (%70.7). These people did not have safe means of transportation, either (73.2%). The burden of working conditions among foreign workers (94.3%) stood out as an important problem. In addition, the wages paid to these people were quite low (80.0%) compared to the working conditions of other people in the region.

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