Tightening Regulations on Refugee Benefits for Ukrainians proposed by the EU

The Union, a major political party in Germany, has voiced its concerns over Labour Minister Barbara Bas's proposed bill regarding benefits for Ukrainian refugees. The bill, according to Union members, falls short in addressing the significant structural problems, particularly in the area of labor market integration.

Martin Huber, CSU General Secretary, expressed a need for improvement in the employment rate of Ukrainian refugees in Germany. He believes more incentives should be created to bring people from citizen's income into work, including Ukrainian refugees. The Union has proposed ending the special citizen's allowance payments to Ukrainian refugees, arguing that this subsidy discourages employment despite many Ukrainians having good qualifications.

Günter Krings, deputy chairman of the Union faction, criticized the bill, stating that it goes in the right direction but does not solve the structural problems. He demands more than just cosmetic changes in the bill. The Union's expectations include a solution that noticeably relieves the burden on municipalities, creates targeted incentives for work, prevents abuse in the system, and addresses the obstacles identified, such as language barriers, slow recognition of qualifications, and lack of childcare.

Hülya Düber, CSU social politician, emphasized the need for continued support and promotion of Ukrainian integration into the labour market. However, her statement does not provide any new information about the bill by Labour Minister Barbara Bas. Similarly, Krings' demands do not mention any specific changes to the bill regarding the switch of benefits for Ukrainian refugees from citizen's income to asylum-seeker benefits.

The Union welcomes the planned switch of benefits for Ukrainian refugees but finds the bill insufficient in addressing the structural problems related to labor market integration for Ukrainian refugees. The criticism of the bill is directed towards its inability to solve the structural problems, particularly in the area of labor market integration. The Union expects a comprehensive solution that will not only improve the employment rate of Ukrainian refugees but also address the root causes of the challenges they face.

In a bid to accelerate job placement for Ukrainians, measures like a "job turbo" program initiated in October 2023 aim to address some of these challenges. However, the Union believes more needs to be done to ensure a sustainable and effective integration of Ukrainian refugees into the German labor market.