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New integration program: Immigrants have to take part from day one!
The Austrian government is planning a mandatory integration program for immigrants upon arrival, which includes German courses and labor market preparation.
New integration program: Immigrants have to take part from day one!
The federal government has made a fundamental decision to implement a mandatory integration program for immigrants. This program is intended to apply from the first day of arrival and is aimed at those entitled to asylum and subsidiary protection as well as displaced persons. The aim of the program, which runs over three years, is to improve the integration of migrants through a combination of language and labor market support. In this context, a strict focus is placed on the acquisition of the German language.
According to 5min.at The offer includes mandatory German courses in which participants must prove their language level. The program also includes basic rules courses and preparation for the job market. The program is supported by various actors, including ministries, the federal states, the Austrian Integration Fund and the Employment Service (AMS).
Consequences of non-participation
The government plans to introduce sanctions for those who do not take part in the integration program. These include cuts in benefits and administrative penalties. If you fail German courses, there are even penalties or deductibles. The press reports that during the integration phase an “integration allowance” is granted instead of social assistance. The entitlement to full social benefits only exists after the successful completion of the integration phase or if there are a sufficient number of fully insured months.
The ministers and the NEOS club chairman emphasize that a well-thought-out approach is necessary for the reform of social welfare in order to sustainably promote and demand integration. The expected acceptance of basic European values is clearly communicated as part of the program.
Integration as a social task
The idea of integration is not new. How bpb.de As explained, Germany was only recognized as a country of immigration late, and for a long time the responsibility for the integration of migrants lay with welfare associations and municipalities. It was only with the Immigration Act of 2005 that integration was made a federal obligation and reinforced through measures such as integration courses for immigrants.
Today, the discussion about integration does not only include linguistic aspects, but is increasingly seen as an economic necessity. Integration policy in Germany calls for both support and demands approaches and aims to enable migrants to participate in society.
In view of the challenges that racism and discrimination bring with them, it is essential that integration is also accepted as a task for society as a whole. The federal government's new initiative can make a decisive contribution to offering immigrants better prospects and promoting social acceptance.