Amazon commits to hiring 5,000 refugees in Europe

Amazon is expanding its Welcome Door initiative for refugee and humanitarian-based immigrant employees, and increasing its support for Ukrainians.

The e-tail giant, which launched an employee support program for refugees called Welcome Door in the U.S. in April 2022, is now making the offering available in Germany, Poland, and Australia. Benefits vary by country based on need, but may include:

• Financial reimbursement for immigration-related processes.
• Access to self-help guides on settling in a new community.
• Free legal resources to help navigate immigration-related questions, with the option to connect with immigration experts.
• Customized mentorship to support each employee.
• Training for leaders and HR team members on how to best support displaced people in the workplace.
• Handheld translation apps for one-to-one communication.

In addition, Amazon is now committed to hiring at least 5,000 refugees in Europe over the next three years and will continue working toward a goal to provide training to 10,000 Ukrainians through the ITSkills4U program by Amazon Web Services (AWS). These commitments build on a September 2022 pledge to hire at least 5,000 refugees in the U.S. by 2024.

In March 2023, Amazon converted nearly 54,000 sq. ft. of warehouse space in Slovakia, previously used for customer fulfillment, into a humanitarian aid hubto help Ukrainian refugees. It will connect to a network of fulfillment centers across Europe space to move donated goods. 

The strategic location of the Slovakia facility will expedite the movement of relief supplies throughout Poland, Hungary, Slovakia, Romania, Moldova, and Czech Republic to quickly help Ukrainian children and families in need, according to the company.

Displaced people also will have access to skills training and education benefits, including English proficiency courses and some local language courses, through Amazon Career Choice. The Career Choice program, which offers prepaid tuition and industry certifications, is available to eligible employees in 14 countries, including the U.S., after a minimum employment period.

“We have an opportunity to leverage our collective scale and a responsibility to serve communities around the world who need us now more than ever,” J. Ofori Agboka, Amazon VP of people experience and technology for global operations, said at the recent Tent European Business Summit. “Let’s act swiftly, and let’s act together.”