The father of Anas has not left his son the choice to decide. “When an NGO came to provide training in sewing, last July, it has forced me to go there,” says the Syrian 19-years with a smile embarrassed. Several times already, the textile companies came to promise employment for refugees in the Zaatari camp, located in the north of Jordan.
Anas has learned to use a sewing machine before joining one of the large hangars to the white neon of the industrial zone Al-Hassan, situated between the city of Irbid and Zaatari. Now, he turns, head down, to sew on pockets of tracksuits, ” happy to have learned a trade “.
Jordan is known for its famous tourist sites, like Petra. Its factories, they are not. Yet, it is in this country that large brands such as Gap, Victoria’s Secret, Hanes or Wal-Mart have chosen to locate their production of clothing. More than 75 plants employ approximately 75,000 people.
660 000 syrian refugees
For the time being, the production, which represents 20 % of the gross domestic product (GDP) of the country, is exported primarily to the United States, but, with the syrian crisis, the European bear may soon be of garments ” made in Jordan “. Because, in 2016, the european Union (EU) opened its market to the hashemite monarchy in exchange for the integration of the Syrians on the jordanian economy.
According to the united Nations High Commissioner for refugees (UNHCR), Jordan has received more than 660 000 refugees from syria, of whom 297 000 working-age. The government of jordan, meanwhile, believes that they are in reality 1.3 million. In February 2016, at the London conference on support for Syria and the region, the authorities have, therefore, called on the international community to be a sharing of responsibilities.
Since the peace agreement signed with Israel in 1994, Amman makes every effort to develop…
