Amazon Launches Employment Support Program for Refugees

Amazon’s new “Welcome Door” program will offer resources and support for refugee and humanitarian-based immigrant employees, including a citizenship assistance portal, free legal support, and mentorship

As part of the new company initiative, Amazon will reimburse employees for their Employment Authorization Document (EAD) renewal fees

Employees also have access to upskilling opportunities, including free college tuition and English as a Second Language (ESL) training

SEATTLE--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Amazon (NASDAQ: AMZN) today launched the Welcome Door program, a new initiative to provide refugee and humanitarian-based immigrant employees with additional resources and support, as well as reimbursement for Employment Authorization Document (EAD) fees.

“At Amazon, 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,” said Ofori Agboka, Amazon’s vice president of People eXperience and Tech for Operations. “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 to 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.”

Once arrived in their new communities, refugees often face challenges 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 nonprofit that helps refugees rebuild their careers.

Through the new Welcome Door program, Amazon’s refugee and humanitarian-based immigrant employees will have access to several new resources, including:

• Reimbursement for EAD renewal fees, which on average cost roughly $500 every other year.
• A new Citizenship Assistance Portal that will fully support U.S. citizenship applications for all eligible employees.
• Ongoing communications that will highlight policy changes that may impact an employee’s immigration status.
• Free legal resources to help navigate immigration-related questions and the ability to connect with immigration experts.
• Access to skills training benefits including free college tuition and English as a Second Language (ESL) proficiency through Amazon’s Career Choice program.
• Customized mentorship.

These new resources will be offered to Amazon employees in the U.S. starting next month, and the company plans to expand the program globally by the end of the year.

In addition to Welcome Door, Amazon is proud to support Ukrainians through the Tent Partnership for Refugees. Amazon is among the companies that have pledged to provide for the immediate needs and longer-term support for people fleeing Ukraine.

“We’re very proud of Amazon’s commitment to better support its refugee employees, joining other companies in the Tent Partnership that are going above and beyond to give refugees the help they need to integrate into their new communities,” said Veronica Rossini, acting executive director at the Tent Partnership for Refugees. “With millions of people fleeing war and conflict in countries like Afghanistan and Ukraine, a good job is one of the most impactful ways for refugees to build a new life. I hope the Welcome Door program inspires many more businesses to ensure these incredibly talented, resourceful, and dedicated people have the tools and support they need to thrive in their careers.”

As part of its pledge to help upskill the American workforce, Amazon recently announced a commitment to fully fund college tuition, books, and fees, as well as high school diplomas, GEDs, college preparatory courses, and English as a Second Language (ESL) proficiency certifications, for its front-line hourly employees though the Career Choice program. Employees who have been with Amazon for as little as 90 days are now eligible to begin this program and can participate for an unlimited time as long as they remain Amazon employees.

Amazon jobs come with an average starting pay of $18 an hour, more than twice the federal minimum wage. In addition, Amazon offers a comprehensive benefits package to all regular full-time employees, which includes health insurance from an employee’s first day on the job, a 401(k) plan with a company match, up to 20 weeks of paid leave for birthing parents, free mental health support, access to subsidized skills training opportunities, and more.

For more information about Amazon’s Welcome Door program, please visit here. For more information on what Amazon is doing to support people in Ukraine, please visit here.

About Amazon

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