“In today’s telephone conversation, I asked the President of Ukraine (Volodymyr Zelenskiy) to ensure that especially young men do not come to Germany in large numbers from Ukraine and instead serve in their country,” Merz said. “That’s where they are needed.”
The Conservative Party leader made the remarks during a business summit in Berlin, where he announced plans to cut social security for Ukrainian refugees arriving in Germany.
“In Germany, welfare payments for these refugees will be structured in such a way that the incentive to work is greater than the incentive to remain in the welfare system. We are therefore also planning concrete changes in this area,” he said.
According to the Labor Ministry’s draft law, Ukrainian refugees arriving after April 1, 2025 will receive benefits under the Asylum Seekers Act, rather than Bürgelgeld, Germany’s standard unemployment benefit. The changes are designed to significantly reduce pay and increase work incentives.
MNA