People who fail to integrate could lose €400 a month in welfare

Refugees in Austria could lose €400 a month in welfare if they fail to meet integration expectations under a proposed reform being negotiated by the government.

The plan would establish uniform welfare standards across Austria while preventing refugees from receiving the full benefit immediately after receiving an asylum decision. Full payments would depend on what the government describes as sufficient effort toward integration.

The reform would also increase pressure on migrant women and men to find work. The coalition of the Austrian People’s Party, Social Democrats and Neos has said it wants a single national system, but the project has moved slowly because of legal hurdles and disagreements among the parties.

Social Affairs Minister Korinna Schumann of the Social Democratic Party has now produced a draft law that can serve as the basis for further negotiations. The proposal reflects the government’s view that many refugees are not sufficiently motivated to attend integration measures, including German-language courses offered free by associations.