Amazon, the ecommerce giant, has announced that it will hire more than 5,000 refugees in Europe over the next three years. The pledge was made in collaboration with over 40 companies, who together will hire, train or connect to work a total of 250,000 refugees. At least 13,680 of them will get jobs directly in the 40 companies.

‍
The announcement was made a day before World Refugee Day, and was organized by the Tent Partnership for Refugees, a nonprofit that connects businesses and refugees. The group’s first summit in the US last year led to commitments to hire 22,725 refugees. Other companies that have made the pledge include Marriott and Hilton.

‍
The refugees that Amazon will hire include Ukrainian women who have had to flee. An estimated 12 million people have fled from Ukraine, with nearly half of them living in Europe. This is the continent’s largest movement of refugees since World War II.

‍
“This is good for us as a company because the opportunity to add diversity to our workforce will continue to make us a stronger company”, said Ofori Agboka, Amazon vice president overseeing human resources. “With diversity brings innovation, creativity, different insights.” Most of the jobs will be hourly roles at fulfillment and storage centers and in transport and delivery.

‍
The company has been struggling to find workers for these roles and has lately been automating its warehouses, with new AI tools for example. Amazon’s pledge to hire refugees is part of a larger trend of companies recognizing the value of diversity in the workplace. According to a report by the International Labour Organization, refugees are “a valuable asset to the labour market” and can “contribute to the economic growth of their host countries”.

‍

‍
Sources: https://ecommercenews.eu/amazon-to-hire-5000-refugees-in-europe/