A system change is imminent for Ukrainian war refugees: from June 1, the job centers will be responsible for looking after them. These arm themselves in Saxony.
Chemnitz (dpa/sn) - The job centers in Saxony are preparing to look after a large number of Ukrainian refugees in the future. "An increased rush" of applications is expected, said the regional directorate of the Federal Employment Agency when asked by the dpa. It is not yet possible to say exactly how many there will be. "Even if what lies ahead of us is demanding, we will do everything possible to meet the challenges," explained Vice President Michaela Ungethüm. Since Russia attacked Ukraine, tens of thousands of people from the country have sought protection in the Free State.
The bundled support of those affected by the job center has many advantages, emphasized Ungethüm. "Duplicate routes to different institutions are eliminated, bureaucratic hurdles are avoided and people benefit from a holistic view." Because the services for daily life, the financing of living space, advice and mediation or the promotion of qualifications are bundled and provided by the job center. "We already found out in the agencies and job centers in 2015 and 2016 that this works." Since this influx of refugees, one has learned and expanded networks with all those involved and municipal partners.
So far, the war refugees from Ukraine have received their benefits through the immigration authorities and social welfare offices. From June 1st, responsibility will change nationwide to the job centers. Many applications have already been issued to Ukrainian refugees, some of which have already been filled out, it said.
The focus is on humanitarian aid, the regional director made clear: "Whether and how the Ukrainian refugees can and want to work is not the main focus at the moment." In addition, it should also be clarified whether the refugees can and want to stay in Germany in the medium to long term. On the one hand, language is the key to integration. On the other hand, questions about childcare and the recognition of foreign qualifications would have to be clarified. If desired, the refugees would be supported in taking up work. The aim is to find employment that matches their qualifications.
According to figures from the employment agencies, 633 women and men with Ukrainian citizenship were recently registered as unemployed in Saxony. That is an increase of 8.2 percent compared to April 2021. The focus is on the cities of Leipzig, Dresden and Chemnitz. However, the statistics cannot distinguish between the Ukrainians who lived in Saxony before the outbreak of the war and their compatriots who fled before the war.
