Starbucks CEO Howard Schultz has publicly announced that due to his “heavy heart” over US President Donald Trump’s recent immigration order, he will ensure the coffee chain hires 10,000 refugees over the next five years.
He confirmed that this plan will apply to Starbucks around the world, with new recruits sought in 75 countries.
Trump issued an order on January 27, 2017, suspending the admission of refugees into the US for 120 days and banning citizens from seven predominantly Muslim countries (Iran, Iraq, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Syria, and Yemen) for 90 days.
In a statement sent to all Starbucks employees and posted on the organisation's website, Shultz said: "We have a long history of hiring young people looking for opportunities and a pathway to a new life around the world. This is why we are doubling down on this commitment by working with our equity market employees as well as joint venture and licensed market partners in a concerted effort to welcome and seek opportunities for those fleeing war, violence, persecution and discrimination.
"There are more than 65 million citizens of the world recognized as refugees by the United Nations, and we are developing plans to hire 10,000 of them over five years in the 75 countries around the world where Starbucks does business. And we will start this effort here in the U.S. by making the initial focus of our hiring efforts on those individuals who have served with U.S. troops as interpreters and support personnel in the various countries where our military has asked for such support."
He added: “I am hearing the alarm you all are sounding that the civility and human rights we have all taken for granted for so long are under attack, and want to use a faster, more immediate form of communication to engage with you on matters that concern us all as partners.”
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