Chancellor Scholz pledges: Jobs will secure residency for Ukrainians in Germany
Chancellor Olaf Scholz announced on Saturday, during a conversation with the RND editorial team, that Ukrainians residing in Germany who have a job and a residence permit will be able to stay in the country. This provision includes men of conscription age, whom Ukraine is trying to enlist for the conflict against Russia.
8:04 AM EDT, May 12, 2024
When questioned about his vision for the further integration of Ukrainians, both men and women, who wish to remain in Germany after their residence permits expire in March 2025, Scholz responded positively.
"We want those here from Ukraine to continue working if they can. We have invested in integration and language courses, so now we aim to motivate many of them to work," said the Chancellor.
Scholz highlighted that many Ukrainian citizens have found employment in Germany, "yet several hundred thousand people are urgently needed in the labour market."
"Employment guarantees residency"
The Chancellor addressed concerns about whether Ukrainian men of conscription age, who escaped the war to find refuge in Germany, will be forced to return due to a new law recently passed by authorities in Kiev.
"Employment guarantees residency," Scholz underscored. The new regulations in Ukraine do not compromise the right of Ukrainian citizens to stay in Germany; "the legal status in Germany ensures their continued residency here," he added.
In April, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy signed a new law on mobilization. The law introduces changes to the recruitment system and expands the authorities' ability to issue electronic draft notices, aiming to better understand Ukraine's personnel resources.
Shortly after, Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba announced plans to restore "a fair approach to men of mobilization age in Ukraine and abroad." On the X platform, he noted that being abroad does not exempt individuals from state duties, leading to Ukrainian consulates halting services for men aged 18-60.
Currently, 1.1 million Ukrainian war refugees live in Germany, but only one in five is employed. The others receive benefits, as the German "Bild" recently reported.
