the beginning of 2016 the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Netherlands asked Holland Group to do a survey among Dutch companies in Turkey in order to find out if and how many were willing to employ Syrians in their organization. Approximately 90 of the 250 companies who received our questionnaire reacted positively. Three in four of the companies that reacted positively indicated that they were willing to sign a Letter of Intent. As of 2016 around 700 Dutch companies do have an entity in Turkey. The main motive for most companies (71%) willing to employ Syrian workers is that they see this as being part of their corporate social responsibility. For 54% of the companies in the survey an (temporary) increase of their workforce is the main reason to employ Syrian refugees. Four out of ten companies hope to find a solution for open positions which are difficult to fill (specialized workers) with additional Syrian workers. The ambition to expand their activities in Arabic countries, including Syria, by trade or investment in the near future is the motive for 27% of the companies willing to hire Syrians. Via United Work Syrians with a legal status can apply for employment at one of the Dutch companies in our data base. Depending on the skills of the candidate, length of their unemployment, and other criteria Syrians will get a training project of maximum three weeks to make them ready to start working. United Work is looking for unemployed Syrians with a legal status who are motivated and committed to start the learning, training and work program with the purpose to get back to work.
