In a “Bild” article, Ukrainians report that citizen’s money is more worthwhile than a job. FOCUS online users initially understand this: “I wouldn’t go to work for 12 euros either.” However, there is criticism of citizens’ money.
Citizens’ allowance for refugees from Ukraine has been a hotly debated topic for weeks. Compared to other European countries, significantly fewer Ukrainian refugees work here. One reason is the fact that Ukrainians here immediately receive citizen’s benefit and do not, like refugees from other countries, receive funds under the Asylum Seekers’ Benefits Act. This obviously reduces the incentive to work.
The “Bild” newspaper asked several Ukrainians. The tenor: Work is hardly worth it compared to receiving citizen’s money. FOCUS online picked up the report and the topic is causing a lot of discussion among users. There is a lot of incomprehension of the regulation and also blame directed towards the Ukrainians. User Harald Seibert writes that what is being done to the Ukrainians “is not nice and these people need help! However, anyone who deserts and abandons their country must not be rewarded with citizens’ money.”
But like user Rainer Fürst, many see those responsible for this situation primarily in Berlin. “Citizenship benefits for Ukrainians were a big mistake,” he writes. “Anyone who receives this does not have to work because it makes them better off. It’s not the Ukrainians’ fault, it’s the politicians’ fault.” Sebastian Selters says he can understand why many Ukrainians decide against taking up regular work. “Why should I go to work for 12 euros when I can get the money that way? I don’t think I would work for less than 20 euros in the future.”
User Michael Richter says: “Citizen’s money is toxic for work motivation and fatal for a functioning society.”
And FOCUS online reader Christian Mayer points out that there are “enough Germans” who don’t want to work. “Only when there are no more work-shy Germans would I get upset about the Ukrainians.” A user who calls himself Haho Müll apparently has first-hand experience. “Ukrainian refugees apply relatively often in the company where I work. Almost everyone closes the application with: ‘If I don’t get a wage of over 25 euros an hour, it’s not worth it for me.’ Far too much for an unskilled job – here we’re closer to 16 euros an hour. Of the 200 employees, we only have one Ukrainian worker. According to her own statements, she works more as a pastime. Apparently it’s not worth it for them.”
FOCUS online recently reported that the state would save several hundred million euros if it gave Ukrainians the same benefits as other refugees.
It is clear that the regulation also attracts fraudsters. A few weeks ago, several media outlets reported that the Federal Ministry of the Interior was now investigating several thousand suspected cases of attempted social fraud. The people are said to have tried to receive citizen’s money even though they were actually not entitled to it.
90 percent, dominant culture – the CDU is now Friedrich Merz. After an astonishing rise, he positioned his party as anti-Green, anti-AfD and: anti-Merkel. Anyone who votes for the CDU now knows what they are getting.
Berlin’s Senator for Integration Cansel Kiziltepe is against tight limits on the amount of cash available for the planned payment card for refugees. In her opinion, people should be able to use the money “100 percent independently and without regulation.”