First Official Turkish Labor Migration to Germany

The first official Turkish labor migration to Germany was initiated by the "Turkish Labor Agreement", signed on 30 October 1961 between the Republic of Türkiye and the Federal Republic of Germany and effective from 1 September 1961. It marked a large-scale movement of Turkish citizens legally traveling to Germany for employment purposes.^【1】 This agreement is regarded as the beginning of the mass migration of Turkish citizens to another country and serves as the founding moment of the labor migration process. Indeed, by signing this agreement, Türkiye became one of the key participants in the post-Second World War European reconstruction effort, which involved the employment of foreign workers. Due to being the first country to officially send workers abroad and hosting the largest number of Turkish citizens, the Federal Republic of Germany plays a significant role in the history of Turkish labor migration to Germany.^【2】

Historical and Economic Background

The foundation of this movement leading to international labor migration lies in the rapid economic development experienced by Western European countries, particularly the Federal Republic of Germany, after the end of the Second World War in 1945. Despite mechanization, the growing industrial demand for labor remained acute, prompting Germany to address its labor shortage by hiring cheaper foreign workers from Mediterranean countries such as Italy, Greece, and Portugal starting in 1955. The scarcity in the labor market had driven up wages, making the recruitment of foreign workers a practical solution. In particular, the construction of the Berlin Wall by the Soviet Union in 1961, which cut off the flow of labor from East Germany, facilitated Germany’s decision to recruit workers from Türkiye, a NATO member state.^【3】 The German government accepted these workers under the temporary status of "guest worker" (Gastarbeiter), assuming they would not settle permanently in the country. For Türkiye, this migration emerged during a period of economic hardship, and the demand from Germany was viewed as an opportunity to reduce unemployment and increase foreign currency inflows.

Recruitment and Selection Process

Under the implementation of the Labor Agreement, Germany’s labor demands and recruitment procedures were managed through the German Liaison Office established in Istanbul. The selection of worker candidates began with applications submitted to branches of the Employment and Labor Exchange Agency across the country, identifying applicants who met the criteria specified by the German side.^【4】 Application documents were categorized and ranked according to the applicants’ professions and submission dates. The surge in applications led to instances of opportunism and fraud, prompting the Turkish Government to emphasize that all worker dispatches must be conducted exclusively through the "Employment and Labor Exchange Agency" to prevent illegal attempts to leave the country under tourist pretenses.^【5】

A critical stage in the selection process was the medical examination. In addition to health reports obtained from hospitals, candidates were also evaluated by a doctor at the German Liaison Office in Istanbul, taking into account Germany’s climate and working conditions. Successful candidates signed employment contracts clearly specifying their wages, social benefits, and assigned jobs. Under the initial terms of the agreement, Turkish workers were granted only a two-year residence permit in Germany, though extension was anticipated upon mutual agreement.^【6】

Worker Selection Criteria

In the selection of male workers, the primary factor was the German side’s temporary view of Turkish labor, leading to a preference for unmarried men. For female workers, more specific and physiological criteria were applied. The requirement of being unmarried was also enforced for female applicants. During selection, women with small hands, good eyesight, and no children were preferred due to the delicate nature of the work they would perform. One of the key screening criteria for women emerged during the medical examination: pregnant women were rejected from the system, and those found to be pregnant after arriving in Germany were sent back.^【7】

Early Phase of Migration and Social Implications

During the first five years of the migration movement, the number of workers sent to Germany continuously increased, and between 1964 and 1965, Türkiye became the country sending the highest number of workers to Germany. The majority of Turkish workers arriving in the Federal Republic of Germany came from rural areas of Anatolia and consisted of impoverished, unemployed individuals with traditional cultural backgrounds. This migration, which profoundly affected Turkish social life, generated a broader impact than other economic and social events of the time and is regarded as one of the most significant social phenomena of the era.

Migrants who moved to a new country began investing their earnings back in their homeland and gradually adopted aspects of the new society’s lifestyle. However, during their time working in Germany, Turkish laborers faced a language barrier, which complicated their ability to claim social rights and contributed to social and cultural adjustment difficulties. The Turkish press of the period (Akşam, Ulus, Tercüman, Hürriyet, Milliyet, and Cumhuriyet) generally portrayed labor migration in a positive and encouraging light. Despite initial restrictions on permanent residency for foreign workers brought in for temporary employment, permanence gradually became a reality as guest workers slowly transitioned to settled life through family reunification.

First Generation Turkish Women Who Migrated to Germany (Anadolu Agency)

Cultural Integration Challenges and Turkish Female Migrants

The preference for unmarried men in labor recruitment led to family separations, as men left behind their spouses and children. Although men initially intended to return quickly, many ended up staying for years. Women left behind were forced to live apart from their husbands for two or three years. The widespread nature of migration from the same regions created a network of gossip, contributing to psychological strain among these women. Unmarried female workers faced stigmatization, accused of losing their Turkishness and Muslim identity. This situation placed women under greater hardship than men due to intersectionality—the cumulative disadvantage of being unmarried, female, Turkish, Muslim, and poor. Female migrants were predominantly employed in low-wage, degrading jobs such as cleaning, which generated psychological pressure and stress. This pressure contributed to psychological issues among the first generation of women, including depression, anxiety disorders, and burnout syndrome.^【8】 Additionally, due to insufficient or expensive childcare facilities, many women were forced to delay motherhood or send their children to relatives in Türkiye. Among the most significant challenges faced by first-generation female migrants were persistent language difficulties even in later life and difficulties accessing health and care services compatible with Turkish-Muslim culture, such as nursing homes and elderly care facilities.

Intergenerational Process and the Identity of a Second Homeland

The Turkish migrant community organized itself in civil society to sustain its presence and defend its rights in a foreign environment. Associations such as the "Turkish Workers’ Association of Cologne and Surroundings", founded by Şefik Karagüzel among others, grew to include thousands of members and actively engaged with local authorities to advocate for migrants’ rights.^【9】 This experience of organization represents one of the earliest examples of Turkish communities articulating their social demands at an institutional level. What began as a temporary employment arrangement transformed into permanent settlement following family reunification, and over time, migrants became an integral part of Germany’s social and economic structure.