Syrian refugees have long been working on farms in Jordan but risked being deported back to Syria if they were caught. However, after a policy reversal announced back in February of this year, Syrian refugees can now get free work permits, reports BBC News.
More than 650,000 Syrians are registered as refugees in Jordan; until recently, the government allowed only a few thousand to work. It was worried they would push down wages, take jobs from Jordanians and be encouraged to stay permanently, stirring up resentment.
Now the authorities are experimenting with another possibility - that the presence of so many Syrians could boost the sluggish economy.
'Win-win'
About 350 Syrians work for al-Rahman Farms.
"It helped us a lot. They saved us from having to bring in migrant labourers from abroad. They also saved us money," says the farms' owner, Jamal Alzoubi.
"We used to hire Egyptians at two Jordanian dinars (£2.10; $2.80) an hour. They dictated terms. When the Syrians came it reduced wages. We had more workers and we started to cultivate more land. Now we have a big area."
Syrians at the farm come from a nearby refugee camp. They are given breakfast and work for an hourly rate of one dinar. Mr Alzoubi is convinced it is a win-win situation.
"Now these people live in dignity," he says. "The camp where they live is oppressive but now they're free to come and go. They go to the market. They have permits. There's no problem."
From challenge to chance
The reversal of Jordanian policy was announced at a conference on Syria for international donors in London in February.
European leaders pledged to ease trade regulations in return.
Last month, a key deal was reached to simplify the so-called rules of origin for Jordanian factories exporting to the European Union.
It allows more imported raw materials to be used in finished products that are labelled as Jordan-made, so they get duty-free access to EU markets.
There are quotas for the numbers of Syrians that businesses must employ.
So far some 20,000 work permits have been given out in Jordan. Syrian refugees are happy to have them but many say it will take more to improve their lot.
