Federal Interior Minister Dobrindt Announces Quicker Employment for Asylum Seekers
Berlin, February 22 – Federal Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt has announced that many asylum seekers will be permitted to work sooner than before. Under the new regulations, asylum seekers will generally be able to take up employment after three months of residency in Germany, even if their asylum procedure has not yet been completed. “Whoever comes here should be able to work – and quickly,” Dobrindt told “Bild am Sonntag.”
The CSU politician’s statement details a compromise on asylum policy reached between the Union and the SPD. The Interior Ministry confirmed that the legal basis for this change is to be established within the new Common European Asylum System (GEAS), which is on the verge of implementation in the Bundestag.
Current Waiting Period of up to Six Months
Currently, according to the Ministry of Labour, there is effectively a six-month employment ban for asylum seekers who are required to reside in an initial reception facility. This applies, for example, to asylum seekers from so-called safe countries of origin, who must live in such facilities for the entire duration of their asylum procedure. Exceptions can be granted by the Federal Employment Agency in certain cases, as per the Asylum Act.
The employment ban is now set to be relaxed, though there will be no obligation to work, the Interior Ministry stated. Dobrindt emphasized that the best integration is into the world of work. “The goal is participation through activity.”
New Regulation Without Impact on Asylum Procedures
The new regulation will not affect the course or outcome of the asylum procedure. Whether a person has a job or not will not influence the decision on granting or refusing protection, the ministry stressed.
Explicitly excluded from these benefits are asylum seekers whose applications have already been rejected, and those who do not cooperate in the procedure, such as concealing their identity or providing false information about their reasons for fleeing.
Asylum seekers are generally allowed to keep their earnings. If they receive social benefits, their income will be offset against these benefits.
Coalition Partner Agrees, Greens Fear Deception
The SPD supports Dobrindt’s plans. “Work is a decisive factor for successful integration, especially for quickly learning the German language,” said Dirk Wiese, the first parliamentary managing director of the SPD faction, to the “Rheinische Post.” He added that the German economy urgently needs skilled workers. Therefore, it is to be welcomed “that Minister Dobrindt is now implementing the coalition agreement here,” the SPD politician said. In their agreement, the Union and SPD had pledged: “We will reduce hurdles for refugees in taking up employment and reduce employment bans to a maximum of three months.”
The Greens, however, warned of a “deception maneuver.” The crucial question, they argued, is whether all affected individuals will actually be allowed to work – “or whether large groups will again be excluded,” said domestic policy expert Marcel Emmerich to the “Rheinische Post.” He also criticized Dobrindt for not being consistent in his approach, promising easier access to the labour market while simultaneously restricting integration courses, despite language acquisition being central to sustainable integration.
Andreas Audretsch, deputy leader of the Green faction, expressed similar sentiments. “Whether Mr. Dobrindt is truly serious about getting people into employment, he will still have to prove. We are waiting for the draft law,” he told the Funke-Mediengruppe.
Reform of the European Asylum System from Mid-Year
The coalition intends to implement these plans with the reform of the Common European Asylum System (GEAS) in Germany. This reform was adopted in Brussels on May 14, 2024, and will become applicable in mid-year. EU member states must adapt their national laws accordingly. Although not yet definitively passed in the Bundestag, the issue is expected to be on the agenda shortly.
The law is also intended to accelerate procedures for asylum seekers who have already applied for asylum in another member state. Furthermore, transfers to the state responsible for the respective procedure will be possible for longer periods, for example, if someone temporarily goes into hiding.
For individuals from countries of origin whose citizens are rarely recognized as in need of protection in Europe, asylum procedures will be conducted at the EU’s external borders.
