Fenninger: Nonprofit work makes sense, but there aren’t enough jobs. Forced labor must be rejected.
Vienna (OTS) – For the director of the Volkshilfe Austria Erich Fenninger „Given the high demand on the labor market, it is incomprehensible why there is not generally easier access to the labor market for people seeking protection
.” Because A high proportion of asylum seekers in Austria are forced to use basic services because they are not allowed to take up jobs
. However, Volkshilfe’s experience in the long-term care of asylum seekers is that they want to support themselves in order to be able to live independently and not have to be dependent on transfer payments. They want to contribute to society and are forced into a long-term waiting position.
Refusal of work obligation
However, Fenninger is even less able to understand the current debate about compulsory work for asylum seekers in the non-profit sector. “The current regulation on charitable work makes sense, but Volkshilfe has always advocated for an increase in the maximum amount of currently 110 euros,” says Fenninger, “but Volkshilfe fundamentally rejects compulsory work, even combined with sanctions. And there are simply not enough such jobs in the communities
“.
In addition, Fenninger notes, “we will shortly Celebrating 75 years of the Declaration of Universal Human Rights. A Compulsory work, combined with sanctions, is a contradiction to this explanation and certainly violates the European Convention on Human Rights.
Questions & Contact:
Volkshilfe Austria
Erwin Berger, MAS
Head of Communications Volkshilfe Austria
+43 676 83 402 215
erwin.berger@volkshilfe.at