The rise of the precariat in Turkey: Migrant women working in domestic services

Migration from different countries to Turkey have existed for many years. However it has increased remarkably after Syrian civil war. Accordingly, the visibility of immigrants in Turkey has increased and it has become clear how much they are involved in social life. Millions of immigrants who have been involved in working life from an early age continue to exist in the Turkish labor market. The fact that immigrants are seen as cheap labor in almost every sector brings serious problems. Immigrants are the segment most affected by the flexible and insecure work spread by neoliberalism. There is a flourishing literature arguing that people who work in a precarious way in flexible employment form a new class called precariat. This class emerged as a result of neoliberal policies and continues to grow. Accordingly, domestic services, where migrant labor is remarkably high, gain particular importance in Turkey. Migrant women working in domestic services face many problems while working in Turkey. This thesis aims to make a class-oriented contribution to the literature by evaluating the problems in the working life of migrant women working in domestic services in Turkey. It tries to provide a new perspective by making this evaluation within the framework of Guy Standing's concept of precariat. Unlike Standing's approach, the concept of precariat is not considered as a separate class, but as a segment within the proletariat. Key Words: precariat, home care services in Turkey, women migration, social classes