Syrian refugees in Jordan’s Zaatari Camp are having their first ever job fair at the camp on Wednesday.

More than 50 local and international companies from various industries will be represented at the fair.

The fair hopes to provide over 1,000 jobs and training opportunities for camp residents.

The Zaatari Office for Employment (ZOE) - the first ever employment office inside a Syrian refugee camp in Jordan - is organising the fair in collaboration with UNHCR, the International Labour Organisation (ILO), the Norwegian Refugee Council (NRC) and the government’s Syrian Refugee Affairs Directorate.

The ZOE was inaugurated by the International Labour Organisation (ILO) and the UNHCR on 21 August, and helps camp residents find work opportunities, as well as helping them with their work permits.

“This job fair represents a unique opportunity for both employers and Syrian job seekers to be linked directly with one another,” UNHCR External Relations Officer Marwa Hashem said, adding “It will provide both sides with a better understanding of what is expected on the supply and demand sides of the Jordanian labor market,” an ILO statement said.

Hashem added that “ultimately, we aim to help Syrian refugees to live in dignity and be self-reliant. Some of these people haven’t been working for several years and this job fair will hopefully help them gain employment, gain experience that will also be useful for their future.”

This comes just one month after the government allowed Syrian refugees to obtain work permits.

With unemployment amongst Jordanian youth soaring, news of the Zaatari Camp job fair might not go down too well with Jordanian job-seekers.