A senior figure within the Christian Democratic Union (CDU) is advocating for the continued involvement of employment agencies (Jobcenters) in the integration of Ukrainian refugees into the German labor market. Carsten Linnemann, the CDU’s General Secretary, expressed this view in a recent podcast interview with POLITICO.
His statement comes amidst ongoing discussions regarding adjustments to social welfare provisions for Ukrainian arrivals. According to the current coalition agreement, individuals newly arriving in Germany, or who arrived before April, are slated to be excluded from receiving unemployment benefits (Bürgergeld).
However, Linnemann explicitly rejected the notion that this shift should also eliminate the support and guidance Ukrainian refugees receive from Jobcenters. “Of course, they will receive that support. That is the purpose of the whole process” he stated, emphasizing that the two aspects are distinct.
Linnemann further urged for swift action on reforming the Bürgergeld system, describing the current level of discussion surrounding the issue as protracted. He argued that Germany possesses sufficient understanding to implement change and focused on the potential for immediate action, highlighting that an estimated 200,000 individuals within the current system are readily employable, with no identified barriers to placement.