Refugees from Ukraine may receive the red-white-red card in the future. This means that they will have free access to the labor market even after the current EU rule expires in 2025. The displaced people will probably have to meet the same requirements as all other asylum seekers.
This includes a net income of 1,200 euros plus almost 200 euros for each child and the ability to meet their housing needs independently. According to government figures, more than 12,600 people from the country have worked across Austria since the start of the war in Ukraine. To receive the red-white-red card, you must have worked for at least one year in the past two years. According to current forecasts, this could affect more than 7,000 Ukrainians.
The card is usually issued for three years – provided that the refugee has been regularly in the country for at least two years and has completed a module of the integration agreement. It can always be extended. The cabinet spoke about additional perspectives and a possibility for sustainable integration.
Low employment rate
According to Minister of Labor Martin Kocher (ÖVP), the overall labor participation of displaced people is quite low. Currently, there are 49,000 working-age Ukrainians living in Austria; only some of them are registered with the employment service or are currently completing training or further training. Minister of Social Affairs Johannes Rauch (Greens) announced on Wednesday that a permanent solution is being sought for groups that cannot work for various reasons.
Criticism came from Diakonie, among others, who see no prospects for many people from Ukraine, such as women who cannot work full-time due to childcare, illness or age. Some, such as the Chamber of Commerce, believe that more is needed, for example an obligation to make efforts in the field of basic facilities.
Source: Krone
I am Ida Scott, a journalist and content author with a passion for uncovering the truth. I have been writing professionally for Today Times Live since 2020 and specialize in political news. My career began when I was just 17; I had already developed a knack for research and an eye for detail which made me stand out from my peers.
