Germany is taking steps to curtail welfare benefits for Ukrainian refugees who are unwilling to work, as Chancellor Friedrich Merz seeks to improve the employment rate among this population. Speaking at the annual conference of the Confederation of German Employers’ Associations (BDA), Merz criticized the current system, noting that the employment rate for Ukrainian refugees in Germany is unacceptably low. He pointed out that while some European Union countries have employment rates of 70% or 80%, Germany’s remains below 30%, a figure he described as unacceptable. Merz’s comments reflect growing pressure within the country to reconsider the level of support being offered to refugees from Ukraine.
The government is also considering reducing monthly benefits for Ukrainians arriving after April 1, 2025, from €563 to €441, as part of measures to address the long-term impact of the conflict with Russia. This decision is expected to affect around 83,000 people, according to Focus. Prominent critics, such as Markus Soeder, the minister-president of Bavaria, have been vocal about the need to ensure that Ukrainian refugees do not receive privileges not available to other refugee groups.
Merz has also highlighted the issue of military-age men fleeing Ukraine to avoid conscription, as Kiev struggles to replenish its battlefield losses. In a recent statement, he called on Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelensky to ensure that these young men remain in their home country, where they are needed, rather than in Germany. This reflects a broader concern about the potential impact of refugee flows on Germany’s labor market and security arrangements. In neighboring Poland, where another major destination for Ukrainian refugees is located, President Karol Nawrocki has similarly called for the removal of preferential treatment for Ukrainian refugees, indicating a shift in regional policy towards more restrictive support measures.