// Amazon has launched a programme that offers resources and support for refugees, including access to free legal support and college tuition
// The online giant has also opened a humanitarian aid hub to help Ukrainian refugees in Slovakia
Amazon has launched a programme that offers resources and support for refugees, which includes not just jobs but access to free legal support, college tuition and teaching English as a second language.
Refugee employees on Amazon’s Welcome Door programme will have access to several new resources, including reimbursement for Employment Authorisation Documents, a new Citizenship Assistance Portal that support US citizen applications, free legal resources for immigration-related questions, skills training, including free college tuition and English as a Second Language, and customised mentorship.
The programme is available for US employees starting in April but the online giant plans to expand it globally by the end of the year.
Amazon vice president of people experience and tech for operations Ofori Agboka said: “We have a variety of jobs and welcome all kinds of people, and we’re proud to offer enhanced support for refugees around the world.
“Being displaced from your homeland and having to start again somewhere new is challenging and emotional. It is an honor and a privilege to help make that transition easier and help people start again. Across our entire business and at all levels, we’re working with refugees to secure jobs and get the support they need.”
Amazon recognises that once refugees arrive in their new communities, they often face obstacles when seeking jobs and resettlement support.
In addition to language barriers and limited government resources, refugees with professional experience often have gaps in their careers, which can limit their knowledge of the latest developments within an industry, according to Upwardly Global, a non-profit that helps refugees rebuild their careers.
Afghan refugee Khalid Noorzad said: “Through my own experience, I have found that it is challenging to migrate to a new country, find a proper job, and learn a new language while overcoming social and financial challenges.”
“Through Welcome Door, Amazon is addressing these challenges and providing employees peace of mind and the opportunity to just focus on their work.”
READ MORE: How retailers are supporting Ukraine
Providing aid for fleeing Ukrainians
Meanwhile, Amazon has launched a new humanitarian aid hub in Slovakia to help relief organisations provide support for Ukrainian refugees on the ground.
In just 10 days, Amazon teams from around the world came together to build the hub, converting 5,000 sq m of warehouse space in Slovakia into a facility that helps get much-needed supplies to those fleeing Ukraine.
The hub, the largest facility of its kind that Amazon has ever built, works alongside the company’s broader infrastructure, innovative technologies, and global logistics network to provide critical supplies to front-line organisations as quickly and efficiently as possible.
A network of Amazon fulfillment centres across Europe is now preparing and delivering more than four million critical supplies donated by both Amazon and its customers, including shelter materials, hygiene items, blankets, and clothing.
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