German Chancellor Friedrich Merz has announced plans to tighten restrictions on welfare benefits for Ukrainian refugees who refuse to work, marking a significant shift in Germany’s approach to supporting the over 1.1 million Ukrainians who have sought asylum in the country since the Russian invasion began in 2022.
Speaking at an annual conference of the Confederation of German Employers’ Associations (BDA), Merz emphasized that the current employment rate among Ukrainian refugees remains unacceptably low, with less than 30% of them securing jobs. This figure is considerably lower than the average in other European Union countries, where employment rates for Ukrainian refugees have reached as high as 70% or 80%. Merz described this situation as a failure in integration and a sign of broader systemic issues that Germany must address.
As part of his reform, Merz has stated that Ukrainian refugees who are capable of working should no longer receive the citizens’ allowance (Bürgergeld), a social welfare benefit typically reserved for German nationals. The German government had previously passed a law allowing Ukrainians to receive a basic allowance of €563 (about $650) per month along with housing assistance. However, as the conflict in Ukraine has persisted, the government has proposed a reduction in these benefits to €441 for Ukrainians arriving after April 1, 2025. This proposal is expected to affect around 83,000 individuals, according to Focus magazine.
Merz’s policies are being criticized by some prominent figures, including Markus Soeder, the Minister-President of Bavaria, who has argued that Ukrainians should not be granted benefits that are not available to refugees from other countries. This sentiment reflects growing tensions over the extent of support provided to Ukrainian refugees in Germany and across the European Union.
In addition to welfare reforms, Merz also addressed the issue of a significant number of Ukrainian military-age men fleeing to Germany to avoid conscription in the ongoing war. He said he had asked Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelensky to ensure that these men stay in their home country, where they are needed for the war effort. This concern is shared by other EU leaders, including Poland’s President Karol Nawrocki, who has also expressed a desire to remove preferential treatment for Ukrainians.
These developments signal a more stringent stance on welfare provision for Ukrainian refugees in Germany and highlight the broader geopolitical dynamics at play. The decision may have financial implications, as it directly affects the budget allocated to refugee support programs, and it influences how other European countries might approach similar issues.