Ikea plans to roll out a new range of rugs and textiles made by Syrian refugees in 2019.
The initiative is expected to create jobs for about 200 Syrian refugees living in Jordan, most of them women.
“The situation in Syria is a major tragedy of our time, and Jordan has taken a great responsibility in hosting Syrian refugees… We decided to look into how Ikea can contribute,” said Jesper Brodin, a managing director at Ikea.
Ikea said it’s in the process of working with local organizations that focus on womens’ issues to get the project up and running.
Jordan has accepted just over 655,000 Syrian refugees, according to the United Nations.
Recent data from the UN shows about 37,000 work permits have been issued in Jordan for Syrian refugees, though many Syrians work without permits. There’s a very low rate of employment among women, who are traditionally tasked with taking care of children.
Ikea said it would work with local organizations to ensure the hours were flexible for women who were caring for family members.
The rugs and textiles will be sold locally and in other Middle Eastern markets that have free trade agreements with Jordan. The Swedish furniture giant said the products will be part of a limited edition run.
SOURCE: http://money.cnn.com/2017/01/31/news/ikea-syria-refugees-jordan/
Categories: Economics, Economy, The Muslim Times
