Hundreds of thousands could benefit: the SPD parliamentary group is pushing for new right of residence for working refugees

This could affect several hundred thousand people, especially Syrians and Ukrainians. However, the paper also says: “Anyone who doesn’t make an effort, doesn’t follow the rules or even commits crimes must leave Germany again.”

Four criteria could determine the right to stay

The right to remain should apply four criteria orient: Employees subject to social insurance contributionsThose who at least largely secure their livelihood should be the first group to be given the prospect of staying. This should also expressly apply to employees outside of classic specialist positions.

Trainees and students should also be included if they still use state benefits to secure their livelihood. Students with a realistic perspective on graduation and integration The third group should also receive the right to remain.

The fourth criterion stipulates special life situations to be taken into account in which livelihoods cannot be fully secured. In the paper, the group names, among other things, people who look after small children or care for relatives.

High requirements for the regular skilled worker title

The labor and skilled labor shortage in Germany as well as the uncertain residency prospects for many Syrians and Ukrainians form the background of the initiative. According to the paper, many employees from these groups do not meet the high formal requirements for a change to a regular skilled worker title despite successful integration.

More than half of the almost 950,000 Syrian nationals in Germany still have a temporary humanitarian right of residence. After the fall of the Assad regime, the Federal Office for Migration and Refugees (BAMF) could soon carry out a large-scale review of whether their protection status continues to apply. Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt (CSU) had initiated that the first Syrians or Afghans who had not committed a criminal offense would now be deported.

According to the paper, the employment rate of Syrians is around 48 percent, that of Ukrainians is just under 40 percent. A forced return of well-integrated people would massively worsen the situation on the labor market, according to the paper. (Reuters)