Jordan extends waiver for Syrian refugees work permits

AMMAN — Jordan has given employers hiring Syrian refugees an additional three months to get work permits for them without paying fees.

The Labour Ministry said Monday that 13,000 Syrians received work permits during an initial three-month waiver period ended last week, and that the programme has been extended.

Close to 5 million Syrians fled civil war in their homeland since 2011, including more than 650,000 registered refugees in Jordan.

Jordan has agreed to legalise the employment of Syrians, while it has been promised with international grants and low-interest loans in return.

Since the beginning of the year, Jordan has issued close to 18,000 work permits for Syrians, more than triple the permits issued last year.