Federal Labor Minister Hubertus Heil (SPD) wants to get hundreds of thousands of refugees with the prospect of staying in work more quickly. Heil announced in Berlin on Wednesday that the focus should be on finding refugee Ukrainians, but also people from other countries, in jobs more quickly. The manager of the planned “job engine” is to be the head of the Federal Employment Agency (BA), Daniel Terzenbach.
Heil announced that he would suggest to the federal cabinet that the 42-year-old BA man be made the government’s special representative for the labor market integration of refugees. Terzenbach said: “The turbo comes at the right time.” Because many of those affected have now left the language courses.
Potential of 400,000 people
Heil said that over 100,000 refugees from Ukraine have recently completed an integration course for language acquisition. “100,000 more will complete the course in the next few months.” There are also around 200,000 people from other countries of origin to whom this also applies. “So we’re talking about a potential for our labor market of around 400,000 people,” says Heil. “We want and will bring these people from the school desk of integration courses to the workplace more quickly.”
Cooperation plans with job centers
According to BA boss Andrea Nahles, 19 percent of Ukrainians who have come to Germany since the outbreak of war are already in employment. The key to igniting the “job turbo” more broadly is a higher “customer contact density”. Heil explained: “Obstacles should be removed at regular, shorter intervals in discussions between job centers and refugees.” The interval between discussions should not be longer than six weeks.
“Many refugees from Ukraine are well qualified and want to work,” said Heil. What is clear, however, is that “the journey from the refugee accommodation to the workplace is not a sure-fire success”. Unemployment should not follow the language course. “It needs help, it needs support.” Individual cooperation plans should also set out steps such as further qualification in addition to employment or further language acquisition. Heil emphasized: “We expect our own efforts, and job offers must be accepted.” Otherwise, cuts in citizens’ benefits will follow.
Business should participate
The economy also wants to win over Heil for increased commitment. He has already spoken to the HR directors of large companies, and a meeting with the leading German business associations and the social partners should follow on November 20th in Berlin, said Heil. The goal is to make concrete arrangements to give refugees from the integration courses a chance on the job market. Language skills are important – “but they don’t have to be perfect,” said Heil. Terzenbach said he also wanted to involve migrant organizations, municipalities and states. Those affected themselves should also be contacted via social networks on the Internet.
The costs are high
Nahles called for more money than previously provided for the job centers in the draft of the upcoming federal budget. Planned cuts of 700 million euros would be offset by increases in personnel costs of 300 million. The upcoming budget negotiations are not unimportant when it comes to the question of “how much turbo we can get on the road.” Heil pointed out that 9.8 billion euros should already be available for the job centers next year, but that he was discussing “strengthening options”.
Reactions of the coalition partners
The FDP labor market expert Pascal Kober called for Heil’s ideas to be implemented quickly. “Success must be measured by the actual integration numbers, not just by good intentions,” said Kober. “The principle of our welfare state is that everyone provides for their own living within their means.” The effectiveness of the measures must be checked at short intervals. Green Party deputy Andreas Audretsch spoke of an “important step forward”. “Many people from Ukraine are already working, we want there to be even more,” he told the German Press Agency.
Many foreigners found jobs
According to a new migration report from the Malteser, the overall positive development on the German labor market last year is primarily due to the foreign population. “407,000 people in this group found employment in 2022,” said the Maltese. Around a fifth of all companies were founded by people with a migration background. “A job also creates good conditions for contact with the German population.” Like Heil, the Maltese also pointed out the limits of the reception possibilities of many municipalities. “In the summer of 2023, the Maltese will also be looking after more people than ever before in the shared accommodation of states and municipalities.”
