Ansgar Graw discusses Germany’s new measures to integrate migrants

World Today

Ansgar Graw discusses Germany’s new measures to integrate migrants 2

German Labour Minister Andrea Nahles said the approved integration law helped migrants to successfully integrate and find a job in the country.

The German cabinet approved an integration law on May 25, which requires adult migrants with no job and a high chance of being able to remain in the country to each attend 600 hours of German-language teaching and 100 hours of cultural “orientation” that end with the “Living in Germany” test.

“The best way to get a good job is to learn German and a job training and therefore these are the key aspects of the law,” said Andrea Nahles, German labour minister.

Merkel’s decision last year to open the door to record numbers of refugees could rejuvenate an ageing workforce.

But the longer it takes for them to learn the language and gain qualifications, the greater the strain on the economy and society.

Those migrants who are required to attend the classes but fail to turn up will see their state benefits cut to a minimum level “that ensures their livelihood”, according to the draft law.

Asylum seekers get up to 354 euros ($395) per month during their first 15 months in Germany and up to 404 euros ($450) after that or as soon as they are recognized as being entitled to asylum.

To take a deeper look at the integration law and the migrant deal between Turkey and EU, CCTV America’s Asieh Namdar spoke with Ansgar Graw, the senior political correspondent for German newspaper “Die Welt” (The World) and “Welt am Sonntag” (World on Sunday).