Sanctions for asylum seekers: Pocket money halved with refusal to integrate!

Sanctions for asylum seekers: Pocket money halved with refusal to integrate!

The Vorarlberg state government has presented a new draft that provides for sanctions for those seeking protection who refuse to take part in integration measures. According to vienna.at If the pocket money, which is currently 40 euros per person, is halved for 20 euros if those affected "Vorarlberg Codex “integration agreement. The draft will soon be sent in assessment, and the first votes from the state parliament indicate that a decision could be taken in autumn.

The "Vorarlberg Kodex" has been mandatory for all new asylum seekers since June 1, 2024. He not only provides for consent to participate in German and value courses, but also the obligation to work on non-profit work. Under the previous black and green government coalition, the principles for this code were determined. With the partner FPÖ on the government front, however, the possibility of sanctions is now introduced to ensure that full social benefits are only granted when participating in integration measures.

sanctions and the participation

Surprisingly, 1,060 asylum seekers have signed the “Vorarlberg Kodex”, which corresponds to an impressive performance rate of 99.5 percent. So far, only four people have refused to sign the agreement. This high level of acceptance could also be due to the fact that the code itself is implemented without sanctions to promote transparency and fairness in politics ( vorarlberg.orf ).

The code aims to strengthen trust in the political institutions. While the introduction of sanctions is a new course, the question remains to what extent these measures can actually contribute to integration. A complete review and evaluation of the implementation of the agreed rules is planned.

The context of migration in Austria

Austria has a long history of migration that goes back to the 19th century. In today's world, migration is a central theme of Austrian interior and foreign policy, which has become increasingly important since the late 1980s. Historically, Austria has always been a country with a high ethnic and cultural diversity, which is reflected in the current population structure. Around 19% of the population are foreign citizens, and the migrants make up 13.2% of the resident population ( bpb.de ).

The reasons for immigration are diverse and range from fleeing to persecution to job opportunities and family reunification. The increase in asylum applications in recent years is particularly noteworthy: In 2022, 112,272 asylum applications were made in Austria, which illustrates a further increase in the associated challenges for integration policy.

The upcoming changes in Vorarlberg could therefore indicate a new era in integration policy, in which sanctions play a central role in promoting desired behaviors. The question remains whether these measures will lead to success in the long term or will rather contribute to tensions in society.