The International Labour Organisation (ILO) and the UN Refugee Agency UNHCR inaugurated the first employment office inside a Syrian refugee camp in Jordan. The Zaatari Office for Employment, set up in coordination with the Government of Jordan, will facilitate access to formal work opportunities across Jordan for refugees living in the camp.

Earlier this year, the Government of Jordan announced that Syrian refugees living in camps were entitled to obtain work permits and be employed in urban areas. Zaatari’s office forms part of efforts to bring employment services closer to refugees in camps. So far, over 800 refugees in Zaatari camp have already benefited from the presence of the job centre by registering their work permits in exchange for one-month leave permits. As part of this, over 350 work permits for the agricultural sector have been issued by the office.

"The EU-supported centre will mean refugee workers now have a clear address to resort to when searching for jobs and applying for work permits, where they can receive all necessary information and benefit from expert support," said Maha Kattaa, ILO Response Coordinator for the Syria Refugee Crisis in Jordan. "This is a ground-breaking development for the region, and the ILO, with generous support from the EU, will expand this service to reach more refugees in Jordan who need our help," Kattaa added.

The new job facility is part of an ILO project funded by the European Union (EU) and supports the implementation of the agreement between the EU and Jordan to facilitate access to EU markets by helping Jordanian employers recruit the portion of Syrian labour required in it. The employment office at Zaatari camp is the first of a wider network of employment offices the ILO and the Ministry of Labour plan to set up, to provide employment services for local Jordanians and Syrian refugees.

"I am deeply thankful to the Government of Jordan for all the important steps taken in the past year to facilitate access to work for Syrian refugees", said UNHCR Representative to Jordan Stefano Severe. But much more needs still to be done. UNHCR will continue working on increasing the presence of women in the labour force and help expand employment opportunities."