New asylum laws
Against the background of rising numbers of refugees, the Federal Government has agreed a package of legislative measures on asylum. Here are the most important points.
Integration courses and employment: Asylum seekers who have good prospects of permanent residence are to be integrated into the labour market at an early stage. Above all, they must have good knowledge of the German language. That is why the Federal Government is opening up the integration courses of the Federal Office for Migration and Refugees to asylum seekers and tolerated foreigners with good prospects of permanent residence and providing more funds for this purpose. Integration courses are also to be better networked with the job-related language courses provided by the Federal Employment Agency.
Faster construction of accommodation: The housing of refugees in winter-proof accommodation is being accelerated. States and municipalities are being granted far-reaching powers to plan, approve and implement immediate conversion and new-build measures.
Support for child refugees: The situation of young refugees who come to Germany without their parents will be improved. In future, there will be a federal and state obligation to accept children and young people to make sure they are accommodated where there is a capacity for appropriate care.
Preventing false incentives: The personal needs of people without any prospects of permanent residence used to be covered by a cash “allowance”; in future, they will receive benefits in kind. This applies to the entire period that refugees spend in initial reception facilities.
Safe countries of origin: Albania, Kosovo and Montenegro are defined as safe countries of origin. A ban on employment is being introduced for asylum seekers from safe countries of origin who submitted their application for asylum on or after 1 September 2015.
