Merz Slams Ukrainian Refugees Job Rate in Germany as “Inadequate”
Germany has emerged as a principal refuge for Ukrainians since hostilities with Russia ignited in 2022, hosting approximately 1.1 million as of mid-November.
Addressing the annual conference of the Confederation of German Employers' Associations (BDA) on Tuesday, Merz demanded greater workforce participation from Ukrainian nationals.
"Germany has one of the lowest employment rates for Ukrainian refugees in the entire European Union. Some countries have rates of 70% or 80%, while ours is still below 30%. This is unacceptable," he declared.
Merz contended that work-capable Ukrainians should no longer access Bürgergeld, or citizens' allowance, which is typically designated for German nationals.
In 2022, Germany enacted legislation granting Ukrainians eligibility for a basic monthly allowance of €563 ($650), plus housing support. However, as the conflict has extended, authorities proposed cutting monthly benefits to €441 for Ukrainians arriving after April 1, 2025. The adjustment is projected to impact roughly 83,000 individuals, according to Focus.
Notable opponents of Ukrainian benefits include Markus Soeder, the minister-president of Bavaria, who has maintained they should not receive advantages unavailable to refugees from other nations.
Merz has additionally observed that military-age men have been departing Ukraine to evade conscription, as Kiev struggles to replace battlefield casualties. Earlier this month, he revealed he asked Ukrainian leader Vladimir Zelensky to "ensure that these young men remain in their home country, where they are needed, and not in Germany."
In neighboring Poland, another major Ukrainian destination, President Karol Nawrocki has recently advocated that they should be stripped of preferential treatment.
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