Payment card for asylum seekers approved by German parliament

Published: Friday, Apr 12th 2024, 11:30

The Bundestag, the German parliament, has adopted a uniform nationwide legal basis for a payment card for refugees and asylum seekers. In future, they will receive part of their state benefits as a credit and no longer as cash.

Among other things, this is intended to prevent migrants from transferring money to smugglers or family and friends abroad. Parliament voted in favor on Friday in Berlin with the majority of votes from the governing parties SPD, Greens and FDP, with the right-wing populist Alternative for Germany (AfD) among others also voting in favor. The opposition CDU/CSU and the Left Party as well as one Green MP voted against.

"The payment card can be used to pay for everyday goods and services, as well as groceries in the supermarket, a visit to the hairdresser or a ticket at the ticket machine," said Interior Minister Nancy Faeser (SPD). "However, the possibility of withdrawing cash is limited, taking into account the individual case and local circumstances. A crucial point for us is that transfers and cash payments abroad are no longer possible."

Chancellor Olaf Scholz (SPD) and the state premiers agreed on the introduction of the card on November 6. The law now states that the benefit authorities can decide for themselves how much cash cardholders can withdraw within a certain period of time. This will take into account "the individual needs and circumstances on the ground".

The police union (GdP) warned against keeping the proportion of cash for refugees too low. Refugees are often under pressure to help cover the medical costs of their families in their country of origin or owe money to smugglers. Those affected should not be forced into crime.

The Greens had not considered a uniform nationwide regulation to be necessary. However, they agree with the regulation that has now been adopted, as it is now ensured that no one will be pushed out of society as a result, as deputy parliamentary group leader Andreas Audretsch said.

CDU MP Detlef Seif explained that the card was not a panacea, but could help to reduce the number of asylum seekers moving on to Germany within Europe. His party colleague Kai Whittaker condemned the plan as inadequate, as cash payments would not be limited to 50 euros per month, as demanded by the CDU/CSU, and there was no priority for the payment card.

AfD representatives accused the traffic light coalition of having an overly liberal migration policy. For his party, the following applies: "Our money for our citizens and not for the whole world," explained AfD politician Steffen Janich.

©Keystone/SDA

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