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Why Jordan’s plan to integrate Syrian refugees into workforce has faltered

The Jordanian government’s plan to issue free work permits to Syrian refugees has not produced the desired results.
Syrian refugee metal shop trainees work at one of the vocational training centres of The Norwegian Refugee Council (NRC) at Azraq refugee camp near Al Azraq city, Jordan, June 27, 2016. REUTERS/Muhammad Hamed - RTX2IHBY
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AMMAN, Jordan — In the billion dollar Jordan Compact, Amman pledged to integrate Syrian refugees into its labor force in exchange for improved access to the European market, grants and cheap loans. The compact, reached Feb. 4 at a donor conference in London, seeks to transform the Syrian refugee crisis into an opportunity, but so far, the Hashemite kingdom is struggling to meet its targets.

Allowing Syrians to work legally is one of the conditions for Jordanian access to $300-$500 million in World Bank loans at near 0%, so in April, Jordan implemented a 90-day grace period for Syrians to obtain free work permits. The government had hoped to issue 50,000 permits, and the World Bank estimated that some 100,000 Syrians might enter the formal workforce through the initiative.

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