Now the Group has also launched a collaboration with the organization 'Joblinge' at four pilot locations in a bid to help young people who have had a difficult start in life - as is also the case for young refugees - to enter the labor market. In addition, by signing the UNHCR #WithRefugees petition, the company is sending a clear message to governments all over the world.

"Employment is an important prerequisite for successful integration. Hence, as a global company, it goes without saying that we will provide refugees with opportunities within the scope of our resources," emphasizes Thomas Ogilvie, Board Member for Personnel, Labor Director and Corporate Incubations at Deutsche Post DHL Group. "We have already gained a great deal of positive experience even though we have had to navigate our way around a lot of red tape. We, as employers, also benefit from having a wider circle of applicants. This is of great advantage to us when we recruit new staff, as, particularly in some metropolitan areas, where the good economic environment provides for full employment, the search for personnel can become a challenge."

The fact that the Group continues to be strongly committed to refugees, and supports them in their integration into the labor market is demonstrated by the newly concluded cooperation with Joblinge, a non-profit organization that helps young people with and without a refugee background up to the age of 25 to enter the world of work. "Our commitment to helping refugees has shown us once again that it is particularly important to help young people who have had a difficult start in life to enter the world of work. There is undiscovered potential here," Ogilvie adds.

Over and above this, the Group is offering 450 'Praktikum PLUS Direkteinstieg' direct entry internship positions this year. Together with the Federal Employment Agency, Deutsche Post, Deutsche Telekom and Henkel have launched the 'Praktikum PLUS Direkteinstieg' program, which employs a three-phase concept to integrate refugees into the world of work. During a period of no longer than twelve weeks, the refugees have the opportunity to become familiar with their place of work and are gradually provided with induction training. This phase is then followed by an internship with a broader remit and increased responsibility. During this time, language and integration courses may also be attended should they be required. In the final phase of the program, the refugees are offered employment with a fixed-term two-year contract.

Deutsche Post DHL Group is also setting an example internationally. The Group has signed the #WithRefugees petition organized by UNHCR, the United Nations Refugee Agency. The latter calls on governments to act in solidarity and to assume joint responsibility. The campaign will run until the Global Compact for Refugees is signed. In addition, the Group has launched the first international programs to support people who have had to flee from their homes in cooperation with SOS Children's Villages in Sweden, Lebanon and Syria as well as with Teach For Lebanon.

_{¹ Breakdown: 1,705 refugees - 1,659 employees, 43 trainees
² Breakdown: 4,790 refugees - 3,945 employees, 98 trainees, 747 interns (in addition, over 250 refugees who received an employment or traineeship contract had already completed an internship within the Group)}