The German Government Initiates an Effort to Facilitate Employment for Ukrainian and Other Refugees

19 Oct, 2023

The German Government Initiates an Effort to Facilitate Employment for Ukrainian and Other Refugees

The German government unveiled a new initiative on Wednesday aimed at integrating more Ukrainian and other refugees into the workforce, capitalizing on their growing proficiency in the German language.

The government's objectives are twofold: addressing a shortage of skilled labor while simultaneously addressing concerns about the high levels of migration into the country. Germany has welcomed over a million Ukrainian refugees since Russia's invasion last year, and it continues to receive a substantial number of refugees and migrants from various regions.

A distinctive feature of Ukrainian arrivals is that they are granted residency status in Germany and the other 26 European Union member states upon their entry. Germany's Labor Minister, Hubertus Heil, highlighted that 132,000 Ukrainians have already secured jobs, marking a considerable success. However, he emphasized that there is room for further progress.

Considering both Ukrainians and others who have recently finished or are currently undergoing integration programs, encompassing language training, there exists an approximate "labor market potential of around 400,000 individuals" who are presently receiving benefits and have a command of the German language, as highlighted by Heil.

The newly launched "job turbo" initiative will see job centers intensify their efforts to facilitate refugee employment. The approach involves regular meetings between officials and refugees, taking place at least every six weeks. These meetings aim to assist refugees in their job search, address potential challenges, and ensure they are actively pursuing employment opportunities.

Furthermore, Heil emphasized the expectation that refugees make earnest efforts to secure employment, and that offers of suitable work should be accepted. He noted that jobless benefits can be reduced for individuals who decline employment offers. Additionally, the government plans to involve businesses in this endeavor and will convene a meeting with employers' organizations and other stakeholders on November 20.

Another key aspect of this initiative is expediting the recognition of foreign job qualifications. The Federal Labor Agency is appointing a senior official, Daniel Terzenbach, to oversee these efforts as a "special envoy" for integrating refugees into the labor market.

Heil's message to refugees with a long-term prospect of staying in Germany is clear: "Now it's time to get to work," and they will receive support from authorities in this endeavor.