DHL “proud to have led the way” in employing refugees
In the past ten years, DHL Group has opened up prospects for more than 30,000 refugees in the labour market and is one of the largest employers of refugees worldwide.
In addition to permanent employment contracts and internships, around 350 refugees have completed training at DHL Group since 2015. Many of the current employees come from the main refugee countries Syria, Afghanistan and Ukraine. Due to the high number of jobs with low-threshold entry, they are primarily active in the delivery or sorting of letters and parcels. Some have now found employment in the professions in which they were once trained. Many others have been able to develop professionally within the DHL Group – for example, from delivery staff to team leaders.
“Enabling refugees with work permits to enter the labour market quickly is not only a prerequisite for social integration, but is also in the self-interest of the German economy. In this way, the social systems can be relieved and the effects of demographic change can be dampened. Therefore, we are proud to have led the way in this issue and to have enabled more refugees in Germany to enter the labor market than any other company in Germany,” says Thomas Ogilvie, Chief Human Resources Officer and Labor Director of DHL Group.
DHL Group supports refugees with language courses, job application training and internships to make it easier for them to enter the labor market. One focus is on mentoring programs for young talents, so that assistance is offered not only in a professional context, but also in everyday questions – such as when looking for accommodation or dealing with the authorities. A central issue is language learning: despite successfully completing courses, there is sometimes a lack of sufficient knowledge in professional or everyday situations. DHL Group offers its own language learning app. This offers the opportunity to learn vocabulary from the professional context and to simulate everyday conversation such as customer conversations.
According to a study published in 2023 by the Refugee Integration Insights Institute, DHL Group’s integration figures ranked second among the world’s 50 largest global companies at the time. There is also a close, intra-Group exchange on integration measures and programs with DHL divisions worldwide – such as France, the Netherlands and Mexico. In order to ensure the high quality of the offers and to come into contact with refugees looking for a job at an early stage, the company works closely with partners – including the Federal Employment Agency and the United Nations. DHL Group is also part of the #WithRefugees initiative, which is coordinated by the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR).
Ricarda Brandts, Chairwoman of the Executive Board of UN Refugee Aid: “The successful integration of refugees is a joint task of politics, civil society and business. DHL Group impressively demonstrates how companies can assume social responsibility and create concrete perspectives. When refugees have access to education, language support and job opportunities, all sides benefit – people find security and participation, societies gain diversity and economic strength.”
DHL Group employs around 600,000 people worldwide. The Group is headquartered in Germany, where approximately 210,000 people work for Deutsche Post and DHL. Around 18,000 employees have already donated their time to integration measures – they are involved, for example. as translators or in the mentoring programmes.
