Zurich decides on scholarships for temporarily admitted persons
Published: Tuesday, Aug 20th 2024, 09:20
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On September 22, Zurich voters will decide how long temporarily admitted persons must wait before they receive scholarships for education. Parliament wanted to abolish the waiting period of five years - the SVP wants to keep it.
Previously, temporarily admitted persons with F status had to wait five years before they could apply for scholarships from the canton. The Cantonal Council decided in February to abolish this waiting period.
90 percent of these people would stay in Switzerland anyway. It therefore makes sense to train and integrate them quickly, explained the left-wing party, which found a majority in the Council.
The government had no objection to the removal of the waiting period - simply because it does not involve a great deal of money. Immediate access to donations is likely to lead to additional costs of 3 to 4 million francs per year.
A large part of this expenditure could be compensated for by savings in social welfare, as those affected earn their own money through training. There are currently just under 300 people living in the canton who could benefit from the scheme.
"Don't make Zurich even more attractive"
However, the SVP launched a referendum against the decision. The SVP argued that Zurich should not be made an even more attractive location for asylum seekers. Foreigners with F status are people who are obliged to leave the country and are only allowed to stay until this is possible.
The SVP did not have to collect signatures for the referendum. It opted for the cantonal council referendum, which only requires the votes of 45 members of parliament. The SVP/EDU parliamentary group in the cantonal council has 49 members - more than enough. The FDP is also against the removal of the five-year waiting period. The SP, GLP, Greens, Center, EVP and AL are in favour.
©Keystone/SDA
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