As heads of state, the United Nations and civil society reassess how the world responds to crises, there is one trend that cannot be overlooked.
Amid the talk of conflict resolution, funding gaps and the blurred line between humanitarian response and development, there is one important right of refugees that has only just been acknowledged by parts of the international community – and that’s the right to work.
For nearly five years, the international community has been deploying the most advanced tools to respond to the unique challenges of the Syrian refugee crisis: biometrics-linked cash assistance, food coupon cards, specially tailored schools and permanent shelter trailers. But that is not enough.
The average stay in refugee camps is 17 years, according to the UN – while those integrated into society may spend decades in their host country.
There is only one way to support Syrian refugees and that is to allow them to support themselves.
Turkey was the first to take the plunge and allow its 2.7 million Syrians to enter the workforce. On January 15, Ankara allowed registered Syrians to apply for work permits. Meanwhile, Jordan is pioneering efforts to transform the refugee crisis into an economic opportunity.
Despite a 14 per cent unemployment rate and 30 per cent youth unemployment among its citizens, Jordan has opened its agriculture, construction and basic service sectors to its 1.3 million Syrians.
To lure Syrians out of the grey economy, Amman offered a 90-day grace period, during which the government will waive all permit fees and accumulated fines for Syrian workers.
The country has also unveiled an initiative to create 200,000 jobs for Syrians over the next five years.
Under an agreement with the European Union, Jordan will establish industrial zones across the country, staffed mainly by Syrians, to produce goods to export to Europe.
In return, the EU has pledged to allow all Syrian-made products from Jordan to enter its markets free of tax, customs and quotas.
The work schemes have not come without incentives.
The EU has pledged $3.3 billion [Dh12bn] to Turkey to offset the costs of integrating Syrians into its economy. The international community, led by Europe, pledged $2.1 billion in grants in February to help Jordan relieve pressure on its schools, hospitals and infrastructure.
Then there are the economic benefits. Licensed Syrians paying taxes and earning wages that will be spent in their community will stimulate economic growth and generate revenue for their host governments.
Still, the international community must do more.
Economists say the cost of creating 200,000 jobs in Jordan over five years will run to $5 billion, more than double the $2.1 billion in aid. Meanwhile in Turkey, work permit fees and 1,300 Turkish lira [Dh1603] minimum monthly wage requirements are proving a disincentive for employers – with only 2,000 Syrians applying for work permits as of April.
Then there is the case of Lebanon, home to more than one million Syrians. The country is replete with its own economic challenges brought on by the war. The Syrian conflict has ballooned unemployment to 20 per cent, driven 170,000 Lebanese into poverty and cost the Lebanese economy $7.5 billion, according to UN statistics.
Yet Syrians are worse off. Dwindling aid and lack of jobs have pushed 70 per cent of Syrian households in Lebanon below the poverty line of $3.84 per person per day.
The international community must find a way to stabilise Lebanon’s economy to allow the entry of Syrians into the labour force.
It will be no easy task. Such initiatives require billions of dollars in funding, changes in laws and cooperation between the public and private sector.
Most of all, it requires the political will – both by donors and host countries – to see the reforms through for years, no matter the growing pains.
Then there is the potential for social tensions.
Creating jobs for Syrians at the expense of local citizens could create resentment and is politically touchy. Jordan has attempted to work around this by opening up to Syrians sectors usually dominated by foreigners so Jordanians will not be squeezed out of the job market. Turkey has placed stipulations that prevent companies having more than 10 per cent of Syrians on their staff.
Cynics say such work schemes are little more than a ploy by Europe to wash its hands of Syrian refugees. Employ Syrians in the Middle East, so the thinking goes, and they won’t seek a better life in Europe.
Yet for the hundreds of thousands of Syrians unwilling or unable to migrate to the West, there is no other way.
In the 21st century, job growth and development are the new humanitarian response.
The choice is simple. Give a Syrian an aid package to feed his or her family for a month, or provide a job to feed the family for years.
Refugee workers are no longer the domain of the grey economy, something that occurs in camps and urban slums when aid-workers and government officials turn their backs.
Like housing, food and safety, work has become a refugee’s right. It is time the international community recognise it.
Taylor Luck is a journalist and analyst in Amman
How to protect yourself when air quality drops
Install an air filter in your home.
Close your windows and turn on the AC.
Shower or bath after being outside.
Wear a face mask.
Stay indoors when conditions are particularly poor.
If driving, turn your engine off when stationary.
Company%20Profile
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Biography
Favourite book: Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance
Holiday choice: Anything Disney-related
Proudest achievement: Receiving a presidential award for foreign services.
Family: Wife and three children.
Like motto: You always get what you ask for, the universe listens.
Things Heard & Seen
Directed by: Shari Springer Berman, Robert Pulcini
Starring: Amanda Seyfried, James Norton
2/5
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Buy farm-fresh food
The UAE is stepping up its game when it comes to platforms for local farms to show off and sell their produce.
In Dubai, visit Emirati Farmers Souq at The Pointe every Saturday from 8am to 2pm, which has produce from Al Ammar Farm, Omar Al Katri Farm, Hikarivege Vegetables, Rashed Farms and Al Khaleej Honey Trading, among others.
In Sharjah, the Aljada residential community will launch a new outdoor farmers’ market every Friday starting this weekend. Manbat will be held from 3pm to 8pm, and will host 30 farmers, local home-grown entrepreneurs and food stalls from the teams behind Badia Farms; Emirates Hydroponics Farms; Modern Organic Farm; Revolution Real; Astraea Farms; and Al Khaleej Food.
In Abu Dhabi, order farm produce from Food Crowd, an online grocery platform that supplies fresh and organic ingredients directly from farms such as Emirates Bio Farm, TFC, Armela Farms and mother company Al Dahra.
The specs
Engine: Long-range single or dual motor with 200kW or 400kW battery
Transmission: Single-speed automatic
Max touring range: 620km / 590km
Price: From Dh250,000 (estimated)
Mohammed bin Zayed Majlis
SUZUME
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Israel Palestine on Swedish TV 1958-1989
Director: Goran Hugo Olsson
Rating: 5/5
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BORDERLANDS
Starring: Cate Blanchett, Kevin Hart, Jamie Lee Curtis
Director: Eli Roth
Rating: 0/5
The specs: 2017 GMC Sierra 1500 Denali
Price, base / as tested Dh207,846 / Dh220,000
Engine 6.2L V8
Transmission Eight-speed automatic
Power 420hp @ 5,600rpm
Torque 624Nm @ 4,100rpm
Fuel economy, combined 13.5L / 100km
Ferrari
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Schedule for Asia Cup
Sept 15: Bangladesh v Sri Lanka (Dubai)
Sept 16: Pakistan v Qualifier (Dubai)
Sept 17: Sri Lanka v Afghanistan (Abu Dhabi)
Sept 18: India v Qualifier (Dubai)
Sept 19: India v Pakistan (Dubai)
Sept 20: Bangladesh v Afghanistan (Abu Dhabi) Super Four
Sept 21: Group A Winner v Group B Runner-up (Dubai)
Sept 21: Group B Winner v Group A Runner-up (Abu Dhabi)
Sept 23: Group A Winner v Group A Runner-up (Dubai)
Sept 23: Group B Winner v Group B Runner-up (Abu Dhabi)
Sept 25: Group A Winner v Group B Winner (Dubai)
Sept 26: Group A Runner-up v Group B Runner-up (Abu Dhabi)
Sept 28: Final (Dubai)