Germany has taken a tougher stance on migrants, who are increasing in number across Europe. The country proposes measures ranging from cuts to the benefits of those seeking asylum, payments in kind or more community work, to deportations.

Tightening Germany’s asylum and immigration policy has the support of the nation’s chancellor, Olaf Scholz, who recently raised the issue with the heads of government of the 16 federal states.

The quest to reduce social allowances and benefits is pushing the limits, leading authorities to consider food benefits in state accommodation, which could translate into savings of over 1 billion euros.

Germany plans to assign a payment card from the beginning of 2024 for those who request refuge in the country, to facilitate the purchase of food without cash. Likewise, community work will be encouraged. The card modality will help avoid sending money to relatives in the country of origin.

To control human trafficking, “the controls implemented since October on the borders with Poland, the Czech Republic and Switzerland will be maintained for a long time, said Olaf Scholz.”

Given the financial and logistical difficulties that German municipalities face with the increase in migration, they have focused their demands on three main points:

• Limiting immigration to Germany, and therefore reducing (or completely canceling) refugee allocations for the municipality itself.
• Receive more money from the government and the states to be able to face the tasks on site and, thirdly, guarantee reliable and long-term financing.
• Support to house and provide refugees with living space, as well as the promotion of social housing.

A harsher measure is deportations. In this regard, a fifth of municipal representatives agree with more deportations. However, analysts point out that they do not represent a great gain or contribution to the solution of the migration crisis.

M.Pino

Source: DW

(Reference image source: Kay Nietfeld, dpa)

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The German Government approved legal amendments this Wednesday to facilitate access to the labor market for asylum seekers and foreigners whose stay is tolerated in the country, government sources in Berlin reported.

According to the provisions of the cabinet of Social Democrats, Greens and Liberals led by Olaf Scholz, these people will generally be able to obtain a work permit. In addition, the work ban for refugees living in initial reception centers for single people will be lifted after six months. Previously, the work ban applied for nine months.

Scholz’s coalition also wants to change the regulation of the deadline for the so-called work tolerance. Until now, only those who arrived in Germany before August 1, 2018 can benefit from it. In future, everyone who entered Germany before the end of 2022 will be able to use this possibility and thus have a perspective of staying in the country in the long term.

People who have submitted “manifestly unfounded” asylum applications from so-called safe countries of origin or who have refused to clarify their identity will not be able to benefit from the facilities that have been introduced.

Those tolerated are people forced to leave the country but who cannot be deported for certain reasons. According to the Central Registry of Foreigners, around 304,000 people were required to leave the country at the end of 2022, of which around 248,000 had a tolerance permit.

“Businessmen are desperately looking for workers, municipalities need relief and people who work contribute, they become taxpayers,” explained Andreas Audretsch, deputy leader of the Greens parliamentary group.

A proposal to toughen criminal provisions against human smugglers was also approved. Smugglers who recklessly endanger people’s lives will be punished with life imprisonment or imprisonment of 10 to 15 years. Until now, sentences range from three to 15 years.

Source: dpa

(Reference image source: Jeriden Villegas, Unsplash)

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