To better integrate refugees into the domestic labor market, AMS boss Johannes Kopf wants a special budget of 50 to 100 million euros. “I have included this in the ongoing 2024 budget negotiations between the Ministry of Finance and the Ministry of Labor,” Kopf said on Monday. German courses alone are not enough, especially for young people.
“I would not agree that we are doing nothing,” says Kopf in response to the accusation that the AMS does too little to support refugees. “However, we should do more.” However, there was a lack of financial resources to meet the increased demand. Currently, around 1,200 refugees come to the AMS every month.
14,000 refugees in training
Of the total of 37,000 convention refugees or those entitled to subsidiary protection (with the exception of Ukraine, which has a special arrangement), 14,000 people are currently undergoing training, mainly in German courses. However, this is not enough, especially for young people. “You shouldn’t just be sent from one German course to another. You have to be productive all day long. A combination of a German course, vocational orientation and learning is necessary,” says Kopf.
18,000 Ukrainian refugees have work
There are now about 18,000 refugees from Ukraine working. Head wants more. “We are especially not satisfied because there is a large group that has not yet appeared on the labor market and is not looking for work at the AMS because they are still very focused on their return,” Kopf said in the newspaper “Ö1 Ochtendjournaal” on Monday. That is understandable, but given the development of the war it does not necessarily make sense.
In four states, a higher additional income limit for Ukrainian refugees has not yet been introduced
The fact that four states – Lower Austria, Carinthia, Salzburg and Tyrol – have not yet introduced the higher additional income limit for Ukrainian refugees established about a year ago is also a reason why many people from Ukraine are not yet registered with the AMS. There is a fear here of losing money for basic services if the additional income is too high. “We cannot have inactivity traps in the system, they must finally be implemented,” criticizes the AMS boss.
In October last year, the federal government and the states agreed to increase the additional income for displaced persons in primary care from 110 euros plus a maximum of 80 euros per family member to the marginal income limit of 485.85 euros.
Source: Krone
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