ETSO President Alan: “If there were no refugees, unfortunately many sectors would come to a standstill.”

Elazığ Chamber of Commerce and Industry President İdris Alan attended the consultation meeting hosted by the Union of Chambers and Commodity Exchanges of Turkey, with the participation of Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya. ETSO President Alan stated, “Without refugees, unfortunately, many sectors would come to a standstill.”

During the meeting where the employment problems of sectors, the contributions of refugees to production, and adaptation issues were discussed, President Alan took the floor to express the problems of the business world. He pointed out that the industry, agriculture, livestock, and service sectors, which hold significant places in the economies of provinces, are facing serious problems in finding employees. He expressed that this gap is being filled with refugees to avoid disruptions in production. President Alan emphasized that especially in shepherding, poultry, and cattle farming, as well as in the agriculture sector, the contribution of refugees to production is substantial, and he warned that the withdrawal of refugees could bring these sectors to a halt.

“Sectors are experiencing a skilled labor shortage”

President Alan highlighted that Elazığ, which has numerous businesses in the industrial and agricultural sectors, is facing significant difficulties in finding qualified personnel to work in these sectors. He mentioned that sectors, especially organized industrial zones, agriculture, livestock, production, services, and construction are experiencing labor shortages, causing people to hesitate in making investments. He stated that many sectors have had to meet their labor needs from refugees and explained that the inability to find employees in sectors is due to young graduates from universities that have opened excessively and uncontrollably in Turkey, often wanting to work at desks rather than in their fields. President Alan continued his speech:
“In our country, universities have opened excessively and uncontrollably, disrupting the supply-demand balance. Those who graduate from these universities cannot find jobs in their fields, creating an army of unemployed in our country alongside sectors that are struggling with labor shortages. We see the closure of second education programs by YÖK as a correct and important step in this regard. To meet the labor needs of our sectors, both our universities and the Ministry of National Education have significant responsibilities to make vocational high schools and vocational colleges more attractive and effective.”

Elazığ Chamber of Commerce and Industry President İdris Alan conveyed that the lack of work permits for immigrants is also a significant issue during the five-hour meeting where Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya listened to the problems of sectors and conveyed all expectations of the business world. President Alan stated that encouraging and supporting the agriculture and livestock sectors would increase people’s return to villages and their contributions to production, emphasizing the need to develop specific policies in this area.

Expressing that they had a productive five-hour meeting hosted by the Union of Chambers and Commodity Exchanges of Turkey, Elazığ Chamber of Commerce and Industry President İdris Alan said, “We tried to convey the problems and expectations of the business world to our Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya in detail. We had suggestions regarding meeting the skilled labor needs of our sectors. We stated that many sectors benefit from the labor of refugees, and production continues with the employment of successful refugees who have no adaptation issues. Again, we requested that the relevant institutions take necessary steps regarding qualified personnel and open certified training programs in certain professions. Our Minister and TOBB President Rifat Hisarcıklıoğlu expressed that they would listen carefully to our demands and take the necessary steps in this regard. I thank our Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya for his close interest in the problems of the business world and to my TOBB President Rifat Hisarcıklıoğlu for organizing such consultation meetings to contribute to the resolution of our sectors’ problems.”

“Elazığ’s voice is loud”

Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya, who listened to President Alan’s speech, stated, “Elazığ’s voice is loud. We will take into account the proposals of our President İdris regarding the identification of problems and suggestions and put them into practice.”

Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya expressed that they follow and appreciate the successes of Elazığ entrepreneurs in the development and progress of Elazığ and Turkey with the added value they produce. He stated that President İdris Alan of the Elazığ Chamber of Commerce and Industry has a significant share in this success, as he voices the concerns of industrialists on every platform with the loudest and strongest voice.

Minister Yerlikaya emphasized that Elazığ’s strategic location, the sensitivity of its people to their country and flag, and its feature as an island of peace, along with the strong support Elazığ provides for Turkey’s development, is above any praise. He thanked Elazığ Chamber of Commerce and Industry President İdris Alan for his work and the successes that come with it.