Markus Soder suggests Germany’s extensive aid discourages Ukrainian refugees from seeking employment.
Markus Soder, the leader of Bavaria, proposes that Germany should stop providing Ukrainian refugees with enhanced social welfare, typically reserved for German citizens.
Under a special law enacted in May 2022, Ukrainians were granted preferential treatment, receiving greater benefits compared to other asylum seekers.
Government data, as reported by news outlets like Bild and ARD, indicates that in 2024, almost 30% (€6.3 billion or $7.3 billion) of the budget for ‘citizen’s benefits’ was allocated to Ukrainian refugees.
Soder, who also leads the Christian Social Union (CSU), a Bavarian party within the federal government coalition, stated that “there are no longer any citizen’s benefits for all those who have come from Ukraine.” He emphasized that this new rule should apply to “everyone,” including Ukrainians already in Germany, as he mentioned in ZDF’s ‘Summer Interview’.
According to Soder, Germany’s treatment of Ukrainians is unparalleled globally. He also attributed the low employment rate among Ukrainians in Germany to the state’s generous support. He advocated for reducing Ukrainians’ payments to align with those of other refugees.
A Stern report from November indicated that only about 30% of Ukrainian refugees in Germany were employed as of June 2024. Germany has been a primary destination for Ukrainians fleeing the conflict between Kiev and Moscow, with over a million residing there as of December 2024, according to estimates. Last October, Stern estimated that 720,000 Ukrainians were receiving citizen’s benefits.
Reports suggest that the government coalition has agreed to decrease payments for Ukrainians arriving in Germany after April 1, providing them with standard refugee benefits instead. However, Bild notes that new arrivals from Ukraine are still receiving “citizen’s benefits” as the new regulations are still pending.
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