The German Association of Cities and Municipalities calls for the amount of citizens’ benefit for Ukrainian war refugees to be linked to their willingness to take up work. Managing Director André Berghegger pointed out in the “Neue Osnabrücker Zeitung” that the employment rate among Ukrainians in Germany is low compared to neighboring countries.
“The incentives to go to work are higher there,” explained Berghegger. Germany must also orientate itself on this. “The war refugees should be made offers of work. Anyone who then rejects this work for reasons that are not understandable should also have their social benefits reduced.”
After Russia invaded Ukraine two years ago, around 1.14 million Ukrainians fled to Germany. In January 2024, around 519,000 people were registered as employable with the Federal Employment Agency, of which a good 206,400 were registered as unemployed. According to statistics, 124,467 Ukrainian citizens took part in an integration course in January.
