Austria's Burgenland Enforces Work for Asylum Seekers

(MENAFN) The Austrian province of Burgenland has launched a new initiative compelling asylum applicants to engage in labor for the municipalities hosting them.

Under this arrangement, individuals who persistently decline to participate will have their social support reduced to the minimum standard.

During an address on Wednesday, State Councilor Daniela Winkler, affiliated with the Social Democratic Party (SPO), emphasized that “migration must be financially and socially viable.”

She stated the initiative aims to promote “fairness towards the population.”

Referred to as the ‘Burgenland Model,’ the program was endorsed by the regional parliament in December 2024 and is scheduled to take effect on July 1.

Winkler contended that when asylum applicants “become committed contributors to the community… prejudices disappear, and integration becomes a tangible experience.”

She highlighted the idea that a “structured daily routine provides asylum seekers with stability and meaning during a period of uncertainty.”

Estimates from local officials suggest there are approximately 130 asylum applicants of working age currently residing in Burgenland who would likely qualify for this new model.

The plan includes deploying these individuals in roles where workforce shortages exist, tailored to the needs of each municipality.

Winkler clarified that the project is not meant to offer “symbolic employment,” but is focused on genuine, routine responsibilities.

As per a statement published on the SPO’s official webpage, the eligible duties encompass outdoor and seasonal upkeep, sanitation, deliveries, and “simple auxiliary tasks” at eldercare facilities and public libraries.

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