Abstract:

In the countries where refugees are guest, there are a number of obstacles in their social involvement. The negative characteristics attributed to refugees by society, i.e. labels, are one of the obstacles that refugees face. In Turkey, the country with the most refugee hosts in the world, the labels are also highlighted as one of the obstacles to the inclusion of refugees in social life. Some refugees, despite the labels, may be involved in various economic systems. The informal sector for refugees in Turkey represents such an economic system. The aim of this study is to understand how relationships in the informal sector normalize refugees. From this point of view, the study focuses on the dynamics of labelling in relationships. The research was carried out in Ankara automotive industry, which is part of the informal sector in Turkey. It was analysed by a symbolic interactive approach through the relationships between individuals in the enterprises (immigrant workers, Turkish workers and employers). The research shows that refugees and Turkish workers, in their workplace, are closely connected with each other over similar religious values. The life stories of both refugee workers and Turkish workers involve individual challenges and struggles are also effective in the approximation of both sides. Employers have a pragmatic relationship with workers. In this pragmatic relationship, identity or nationality becomes less important, performance and cost-focused expectations and interests come to the forefront. The obligation of labeled refugees to adjust to the pragmatic expectations of employers is decisive in the normalization of refugees.