A Company’s Commitment to Welcoming and Hiring Refugees

At Amcor (formerly Berry Global), a packaging manufacturer based in Evansville, IN, the company’s mission is simple: to “always advance to protect what’s important.”

This commitment goes beyond their products and extends to the people they hire and support, especially those who have been forced to leave their homes due to crises and need help rebuilding their lives.

In 2023, Amcor hired more than 150 refugees as part of their growing refugee integration program. Many of these new team members came from East Africa, Afghanistan, and Ukraine. Through this program, refugees gain the opportunity for financial independence and the chance for long-term career growth in a supportive work environment.

Amcor’s dedication to welcoming refugees and other immigrants reached a new milestone in July 2024 when the company joined the Global Refuge Preferred Refugee Employer (PRE) program.

The PRE program partners with employers who are dedicated to supporting refugees and providing them with opportunities to succeed. Companies in the program benefit from ongoing training and support to keep building a culture of welcome.

Since becoming a PRE, Amcor has hired 11 refugees at their Hanover, MD location through Global Refuge and participated in a hiring event in Baltimore.

“It has been amazing having multiple families come through Global Refuge to work for us,” says Briana Caceres, Human Resources Manager at Amcor. “It makes my heart so warm to see them work together with everyone.”

As a Preferred Refugee Employer, Amcor follows several practices to ensure their refugee employees thrive, including:

• Offering a living wage and benefits package
• Creating a refugee-specific recruitment pipeline
• Using a cohort model for hiring and placement
• Providing clear promotion pathways for immigrant employees.

By hiring refugees, employers can play a crucial role in supporting the refugee and immigrant community during these uncertain times. It’s not just good for business—it’s good for everyone.