German politician calls to slash welfare payments for Ukrainian refugees

Markus Söder, chairman of Bavaria’s Christian Social Union (CSU), has called for the cessation of Bürgergeld payments to Ukrainian refugees, arguing in a recent ZDF interview that the current welfare benefits discourage qualified Ukrainians from seeking employment.

Söder stated, “It must be ensured that Ukrainians no longer receive Bürgergeld. That is why so few people from Ukraine are working here, despite their strong qualifications.”

However, experts note that this assertion requires further context. Data from the German Federal Employment Agency’s Institute for Labour Market and Vocational Research  (Bericht des Instituts für Arbeitsmarkt- und Berufsforschung) indicate that, as of May 2025, the employment rate for Ukrainians in Germany stood at 34.9% and has been steadily rising.

The report also concluded that social benefits exert only a minor and statistically insignificant influence on the employment rates of Ukrainian refugees.

Söder has proposed that Ukrainians should instead receive the more basic asylum seeker benefits rather than Bürgergeld.

This suggestion has ignited debate on the most effective approach to supporting refugee integration while promoting economic self-sufficiency.

By Aghakazim Guliyev