The city of Salzgitter in Germany has launched an investigation into introducing community service orders for asylum seekers. Unjustified refusal to work may result in a benefits cut. As a result, those who are able to work will be obliged to accept reasonable job offers.
Although some sources claim that voluntary work opportunities have been well received so far, half of the migrants refuse to work in Germany’s Community Service Program.
The Salzgitter administration justifies the decision on the grounds of integration, and Mayor Frank Klingebiel (CDU) has rejected accusations of forced labor. He claimed that volunteer work could be meaningful and that many asylum seekers were willing to work, which promotes language learning and social participation, as well as reducing the burden on the city.
According to the Lower Saxony Ministry of the Interior, the implementation of the rules will be the responsibility of local authorities and districts. The city council’s decision is based on the law on asylum seekers’ benefits, which stipulates that such work is remunerated at a rate of €0.80 per hour.
