Hello Europe Podcast Podcast

Austria: prohibition of apprenticeship for asylum seekers

In Austria, the coalition government, an alliance between conservatives and the far right, wants to ban access to learning for young asylum seekers. It is a device to which asylum seekers have been entitled since 2012.

from our correspondent in Vienna,

It was the previous government, a coalition of social democrats and conservatives, that decided to open up apprenticeship to young asylum seekers in areas where there are needs, such as catering. But today it is the conservatives who lead Austria with the FPÖ, the far-right party and the tone has changed.

Last Sunday, Heinz-Christian Strache, the head of the FPÖ, also vice-chancellor, criticized this device in an interview. According to him " when you do not have a right to stay, you should not be allowed to start an apprenticeship ". A few hours later, the government spokesman confirmed the executive's desire to close the apprenticeship to asylum seekers. This decision is not anecdotal because apprenticeship is a widespread practice in Austria: 45% of 15-19 year olds are apprentices and 1000 asylum seekers are currently trained through this process.

For the opposition, it's an incomprehensible decision

There is a strong need for apprentices and skilled workers in Austria. Two main reasons for this. First, the fertility rate has fallen sharply: it went from 2.82 births per woman in 1963 to 1.53 in 2016. Second reason: more and more young people today choose higher education.

Result: 12,500 apprenticeship places are currently vacant. For the opposition, this decision is an economic mistake. The leader of the Social Democratic Party, Christian Kern, deplores a policy " completely absurd ", while there is today " more offers of learning than demands " according to him.

The Austrian government explained that it would help companies to find apprentices, arguing that 8600 refugees under the age of 25 are looking for a job today, so they will have priority for apprenticeship places.

Associations denounce a harmful climate for asylum seekers

According to organizations like Volkshilfe , asylum seekers have been particularly targeted by the government in recent months. Border controls remain strong and police will soon be able to take cash and mobile phones from asylum seekers who want to enter Austria, even though the number of arrivals has fallen sharply since 2015: only 8000 requests have been filed for the year 2018.

Associations also point to budget cuts, particularly for teaching German. In short, a policy that does not facilitate, according to them, the integration of asylum seekers, even though their application may take two years or more to be educated.

On the same subject