Work and Travel Programs in Istanbul: From Cultural Exchange Visitors to Cheap Labor

This study analyzes the impact of the global production system on cultural exchange programs. With increased globalization, we have seen the importance of cultural integration emphasized worldwide and exchange programs are an important tool used to assist in cultural integration. In examining Work and Travel programs conducted by the United States of America in this study, we are able to define an important characteristic of typical cultural exchange programs. That is, we observed a strong correlation between Work and Travel programs and seasonal employment in Istanbul. In other words, the need for production workers is impacting cultural exchange programs. To conduct our study, we interviewed participants of a Work and Travel program and consulting firms that operate within a shared framework. We also examined the program’s employment structure and the participants’ working conditions. The results show that Work and Travel programs have unfortunately become one way for employers to find cheap, flexible, and seasonal labor on a global scale. We also found that these programs are commonly used to profit various organizations while limiting achievement of true cultural exchange. Inasmuch as the process of employment is dominant and control is inadequate, it is inevitable that Work and Travel program participants are exposed to various exploitation mechanisms