Policy Barriers to Successful Integration of Refugee Populations in Resettlement, Employment and Language Provision in Germany

Policy Problem Statement:

Workplace integration of asylum seekers in Germany is hampered by a three month upon arrival work ban and a preferential hiring policy for German citizens, EU-members and recognized refugees. The late relaxation of these restrictions and the unavailability of transitionary programs, leaves asylum seekers dependent on social service payments and deprives them of a positive outlook toward self-sustainability. With current levels of economic prosperity there is little need for these recession-inspired restrictions on employment, but rather a dependency on both workforce growth and productivity. Asylum seeker integration at the workplace is critically important because it allows for early relationship building with nationals, familiarization with host-nation culture and public appreciation of asylum seeker efforts.

Insufficient integration opportunities at the workplace prompt the policy question of what combination of programs and eased restrictions best allows incoming asylum seekers to familiarize themselves with and contribute to the German workplace. What levels of skills and language training provide the ideal foundation for smooth workplace immersion? How is the current preferential hiring policy best amended to accommodate asylum seeker contributions and what role do apprenticeship and volunteer programs play in making this transition? These questions are addressed by the proposed alternatives.