Japanese high street giant Uniqlo will hire 100 refugees both at home and
overseas in an expansion of its self-reliance programme that supports
recognised refugees to work at its stores.
The retailer is currently employing 13 refugees in Japan since the
programme was launched in 2011, according to Asahi Shimbun.
Fast Retailing, parent company of Uniqlo, will also donate 1.22 billion yen
to United Nations over the next three years to support self-reliance
initiatives for refugees in Europe and around the world.
Separately, the group has signed a licensing deal with US laser technology
firm RevoLaze for the manufacturing and selling of laser-treated garments
globally.
The deal will grant Fast Retailing access to RevoLaze’s latest technology,
which is designed to eliminate the need for hand-sanding after laser
abrasion as a more sustainable and productive practice.
RevoLaze holds 31 worldwide patents for laser scribing methods and was most
recently involved in a year-long patent infringement lawsuit against rival
firms Jeanologia/GFT and Easy Laser.