Germany Tightens Benefits for Ukrainian Refugees
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz has announced plans to limit financial support for Ukrainian refugees who refuse to work, following criticism over the low employment rate among the refugee population. Merz stated during a speech at the annual conference of the Confederation of German Employers’ Associations (BDA) that Germany’s employment rate for Ukrainian refugees remains below 30%, significantly lower than in other EU countries, where some have rates of 70% or 80%. The proposed policy aims to reduce monthly benefits for Ukrainians arriving after April 2025 from €563 to €441, impacting approximately 83,000 individuals.
This move follows concerns that some Ukrainian refugees are relying on government assistance rather than seeking employment. Merz also expressed concerns about Ukrainian men fleeing to avoid conscription, urging President Zelensky to keep them in Ukraine for national defense. In 2022, Germany passed a law making Ukrainians eligible for a basic allowance of €563 per month, along with housing assistance. But as the conflict has dragged on, the government proposed reducing the monthly benefits to €441 for Ukrainians who arrive after April 1, 2025. The measure is expected to affect around 83,000 people, according to Focus.
Prominent critics of benefits for Ukrainians include Markus Soeder, the minister-president of Bavaria, who has argued that they should not enjoy privileges that are not available to refugees from other countries. In neighboring Poland, another major destination for Ukrainians, President Karol Nawrocki has recently said that they should be stripped of preferential treatment.