(MENAFN) Chancellor Friedrich Merz has expressed concerns about the alarmingly low employment rate among Ukrainian refugees in Germany, pledging to reform the country’s benefits system.

Germany has been a major destination for Ukrainians since the conflict with Russia began in 2022, with an estimated 1.1 million Ukrainians residing in the country as of mid-November.

During a speech at the Confederation of German Employers’ Associations (BDA) annual conference on Tuesday, Merz emphasized that more Ukrainian nationals should actively seek employment.

“Germany has one of the lowest employment rates for Ukrainian refugees in the entire European Union. Some countries have rates of 70% or 80%, while ours is still below 30%. This is unacceptable,” Merz stated.

The Chancellor also highlighted the need for Ukrainians capable of working to move away from relying on Bürgergeld—a citizens’ allowance typically reserved for German nationals.

In 2022, Germany introduced legislation granting Ukrainians eligibility for a basic allowance of €563 ($650) per month, in addition to housing support.

However, as the war continues, the German government has proposed reducing these monthly benefits to €441 for Ukrainians arriving after April 1, 2025.

According to a news agency, this adjustment is expected to impact around 83,000 individuals.

Among the vocal critics of these benefits is Markus Soeder, the minister-president of Bavaria, who has argued that Ukrainian refugees should not receive privileges not available to refugees from other nations.

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