GERMANY plans to introduce a work obligation for asylum seekers, German media report.

“The current rules must be changed in order to introduce a work obligation for asylum seekers immediately after arrival from reception centers to accommodation in cities”, states the document that the premiers of the federal states are expected to send to the federal government after tomorrow's session.

“Waiting for language and integration courses must no longer be an excuse for delaying integration into the labor market”

The document further states that, given the current labor shortage, it is unacceptable that many refugees and asylum seekers are not available to the labor market.

“Waiting for language and integration courses must no longer be an excuse for delaying integration into the labor market”, states the document which, according to Augsburger Allgemeine Zeitung, is also supported by those federal states in which the ruling Social Democratic Party of Germany (SPD) is in power.

The new regulation would enable cities and municipalities to send asylum seekers and refugees to socially useful work.

Are food vouchers being introduced instead of cash?

The document by the premiers of the federal states, which are responsible for the accommodation and care of refugees, also calls for the possibility of introducing vouchers for food and necessities instead of money.

Many politicians are calling for the introduction of such a system because they believe it would reduce incentives for refugees, who overwhelmingly choose Germany as their final destination after arriving in the European Union precisely because of attractive social benefits.

Among other things, the aim is also to prevent the outflow of cash, which many refugees send to their countries of origin. “By introducing a payment card for food and goods, the outflow of money abroad would be prevented”, said Thuringia Interior Minister Georg Maier.

Policy toward immigrants has become one of the most important domestic political topics in Germany, as shown by the success of the right-wing populist AfD. By the end of the year, the number of refugees in Germany could reach the record figures from the refugee crisis years of 2015/2016.

Source: index.hr