German companies start refugee programs

The world's largest chemical group, BASF, wants to prepare 50 refugees for entry into the German world of work. For a year, they will receive language and further training, in order to then start an apprenticeship or job. BASF has approximately 50,000 employees in Germany alone.

The carmaker has taken on 40 new trainees in recent weeks. Within 14 weeks, the refugees will have learned simple production tasks. The Federal Employment Agency provides these so-called “bridge internships” and covers the costs for the first six weeks. In the remaining eight weeks Daimler will pay its interns the minimum wage and finance their language courses.

Since the beginning of September, Deutsche Telekom has offered more than 70 placements on the main refugee internet platform "worker." These positions are paid based on their length, either in a lump sum or the minimum wage. In addition, the Group plans to create 100 additional training places for refugees next year. Deutsche Telekom employs 120,000 people countrywide.

Refugees with professional experience may undergo a shortened training program to become an electrician at Deutsche Bahn. The program will take nearly two and a half years, a year less than the normal. Currently, 15 people seeking asylum are undergoing placements at Deutsche Bahn, with nine to follow. The group said it would like to take on all 24 trainees at the end of the program.

Siemens is currently offering ten internships for refugees. Next year, the technology group plans to expand its program, providing up to 100 internships for refugees nationwide. Siemens also plans to introduce four types of German courses for 16 refugees at a time, to prepare them for the workplace. With 115,000 employees, Siemens is the seventh largest company in Germany.

Software manufacturer SAP wants to provide at least 100 internships for refugees in the coming year. The openings are primarily for the highly qualified. As such, the group expects basic technical knowledge and a university degree or an equivalent qualification. SAP also plans to create ten additional places in a dual degree program, in business computer science.

The entry of refugees into the workplace incurs bureaucratic red tape for all companies, regardless of their size. Nevertheless, alongside the big corporations, many middle and smaller size companies are also getting involved in helping refugees find their way into the workplace.