Germania

How difficult tis the language of the country : Many beginner level language students have the misconception that German is an almost impossible language to learn.Seemingly endless compound words and the concept of noun genders is often enough to scare people off learning German for good. However, German actually isn’t nearly as hard to learn as people might think and one of the main reasons German isn’t all that hard to learn is that German and English originate from the same language families and share more similarities than you probably realise.

Can we find a job if we speak English but not the native langage : For refugees with good English, Berlin’s tech and creative industries can offer opportunities that do not require German. Companies that cater to an international market often have English-speaking offices.With employees from more than 40 nations, social games developer Wooga operates in English at its Berlin headquarters. Founder and chief executive Jens Begemann says his team are assessing where refugees can fit into the Wooga workforce.

INTEGRATION

What is the general attitude towards refugees : During Angela Merkel’s time as Germany’s Chancellor, the country has seen the largest inflow of migrants in its post-war history, but overall attitudes to immigration in Germany have been remarkably stable and, if anything, have actually become slightly more positive. On the surface, stability seems to be the word that best describes attitudes to immigration in Germany.To explore the structure of attitudes to immigration in Germany, this policy brief addresses four key features: the overall increase in positive attitudes to immigration; levels of issue salience; different perceptions of immigration among eastern and western Germans; and, finally the role played by wider trust in Germany’s social and political institutions in reducing anxiety around immigration. These considerations on ageing and the economy have often been part of the discourse on immigration in Germany and seems to be reflected in the population’s overall positive attitudes to the economic impacts of immigration.
Are the people in the country welcoming to strangers : Someone once compared making friends with Germans with a coconut: It’s hard to get in, but once inside you will never get out. Germans generally don’t run up to you and try to make friends. They wait until they find out they have something in common with you and then approach you to talk about that. Once you have proven to be a good mate, they will open up some more.As far as socialization is concerned, Germans tend to spend with people they know – or to share a common interest. If you have a problem forging connections to Germans in Germany, ask yourself:”What do I like to do?”.
Are thereany associations/organisations thatcan help (Red Cross or others) : Aktiv-Under the headings ?Active against deportation, no human being is illegal?, the website collects campaigning issues and documentations.
Jörg Alt: One of the pioneer researchers in the field has a personal website with a lot of material.
Asyl in der Kirche e. V.: The Organization ?asylum in churches? is an umbrella organisation for a network of Christian parishes offering asylum to refugees threatened by deportation to a non-secure country. It engages in political lobbyism, provision of information, training courses and counselling.
Berlin-Institut für Bevölkerung und Entwicklung: The Berlin-Institute for Population and Development is an independent non-partisan research institute, improving the perception of migration in the public opinion. It provides an overview over concepts and trends in irregular migration in German.

BKA (Bundeskriminalamt): The German Federal Criminal Police Office is the a federal police agency in Germany. It publishes among others police criminal statistics which contain information on police investigations against irregular migrants.

BMI (Bundesministerium des Inneren): The  Federal Ministry of the Interior provides information on migration, integration, refugees and asylum seekers. On request of the coalition government, it prepared a report on needs for action with regard to irregular migrants in 2007.

DIM (Deutsches Institut für Menschenrechte): The German Institute for Human Rights provides information on the human rights situation within and outside Germany, including policy advice and international co-operation. It provides several reports on the human rights of irregular migrants, such as the report of the Working group Illegality/Health (Bericht der Bundesarbeitsgruppe Illegalität/Gesundheit) on the Health status of illegal migrants in Germany .

Efms (Europäisches Forum für Migrationsstudien): The European Forum for Migration Studies (Europäisches Forum für Migrationsstudien) at the University of Bamberg has several research fields, among them illegal migration and human trafficking.

FZAA (Forschungszentrum für Internationales und Europäisches Ausländer- und Asylrecht): The Center for European Law on Immigration and Asylum is associated with the University of Konstanz. Its research focus is the impacts of international and European law on German Law on Immigration and Asylum. It provides texts of law on Immigration and Asylum from different countries for download.

Hamburg study (Leben in der Schattenwelt. Studie zur Situation von Menschen ohne gültige Papiere in Hamburg): The study was commissioned by the Diakonisches Werk in Hamburg in 2008. Its main focus is the life situation of migrants without residence status in Hamburg.

HWWI (Hamburgisches WeltWirtschaftsInstitut): The Hamburg Institute of International Economics is an independent, non-profit research organisation specialised in the early recognition of economic, political and societal trends. Its Migration Research Group works on a range of migration topics, including migration control, labour market integration and migration policies.

Heinrich Böll Stiftung: The Heinrich Böll Foundation is a political Foundation (Bündnis 90/die Grüne). It offers a variety of downloads on the topics of refugees, illegal immigration and related topics in German.

IMIS (Institut Für Migrationsforschung und Interkulturelle Studien): The Institute for Migration Research and Intercultural Studies is a research institute at the University of Osnabrück. Under the heading Migration and Integration in Law and Politics, it deals ? among other issues ? with irregular migration.

What is the official attitude of the government about the migrants : welcoming/unwanted:

A study by the Bertelsmann Foundation found that a vast majority of Germans still say immigrants and refugees are “very welcome, or quite welcome.” Angela Merkel says Germany will look after genuine refugees, fulfilling its international humanitarian duty.That welcome does not extend to the many economic migrants. Those from Balkan countries like Kosovo, Albania and Serbia can now being sent back – Germany recently classified those countries as “safe”.Mrs Merkel has been much criticised for her “open door” policy on refugees. The critics include fellow conservatives, notably the Bavarian CSU party.Last year there was an outpouring of sympathy and help for the new arrivals from many ordinary Germans.But there were also many street protests by the right-wing Pegida movement, which claims to be defending Germany from “Islamisation”.Many migrants want to get asylum in Germany or Sweden, but those countries want their EU partners to show “solidarity” and share the burden.Many have fled the conflicts and abuses in Syria, Iraq, Afghanistan and Eritrea. But there are also many economic migrants fleeing poverty in the Balkans and countries like Nigeria and Pakistan.Chancellor

Bibliography:
https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-34278886
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2015/sep/02/refugees-welcome-uk-germany-compare-migration
https://www.rescue.org/country/germany
https://www.quora.com/Can-I-get-a-job-in-Germany-when-I-dont-speak-the-German-language
https://www.newyorker.com/business/currency/how-refugees-find-jobs-in-germany
https://www.quora.com/Why-are-so-many-Germans-against-socializing-with-strangers
http://irregular-migration.net/index.php?id=210
https://www.dw.com/en/refugees-integrating-into-german-jobs-market-says-agency/a-45155282

                This document wasprepared by : Huzum Bianca-Iuliana

*thisprojectisfinanced by the European Union

REFUGEE LOOKING FOR A JOB

COUNTRY of DESTINATION :            GERMANY

GENERAL INFORMATION

Number of refugees present in the country : 123.909

Nationalities/ethnic groups present in the country (in percentage) :Syria (61%),  Afghanistan (6,4%),  Iraq (22,9%),  Iran (2,5%), Turkey (1,3%), Nigeria (1,7%), Somalia (4,2%)

Languages spoken in the country : German official language, and Turkish, Arabic, Russian, Polish, Serbo-Croatian, Dutch, Italian, Greek, Romanian, Tamil, Spanish immigrant languages.

Length to get the refugee status :

After a certain period, a permanent status, “settlement permit” (Niederlassungserlaubnis) or also translated as “permanent residence permit”, can be granted. However, the preconditions for this are more restrictive as of August 2016.

• After three years, persons with refugee status can be granted a Niederlassungserlaubnisif they have become “outstandingly integrated” into society. The most important preconditions are that they have to speak German on an advanced level (level C1 of the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages, CEFR), have to be able to cover the “overwhelming part” of the cost of living and have to prove that they have sufficient living space for themselves and their families. A total of 1,812 permanent residence permits were granted on this basis for the first time in 2017.
• After five years of stay in Germany (into which period the duration of the asylum procedure is included), persons with refugee status can be granted a Niederlassungserlaubnisunder certain conditions. Most importantly, they have to be able to cover for the “better part” of the cost of living, have to speak basic German (level A2 of the CEFR) and have to prove that they have sufficient living space for themselves and their families.

In both cases, the Niederlassungserlaubnis can only be granted if the BAMF has not initiated a procedure to revoke or withdraw the status. The necessary procedure has been simplified considerably as of August 2015. Before this date, local aliens offices had to wait for a formal notification from the BAMF on the outcome of a so-called “revocation examination procedure”4 before they could issue the Niederlassungserlaubnis. This also meant that the BAMF had to formally notify the local authorities about the outcome of the revocation test for every single refugee, although no revocation took place in about 95% of the cases. Now the Niederlassungserlaubnis shall always be granted as long as the local authorities do not receive a notification from the BAMF. Accordingly, the BAMF can now summarily decide not to initiate revocation procedures for most refugees and it only carries out revocation tests in exceptional cases.

Beneficiaries of other kinds of protection (subsidiary or national) do not have privileged access to a Niederlassungserlaubnis. They can apply for this status after five years, with the duration of the asylum procedure being taken into account. However, they have to meet all the legal requirements for the Niederlassungserlaubnis,  such as the requirement to completely cover the cost of living and to possess sufficient living space for themselves and their families. In addition, they have to prove that they have been paying contributions to a pension scheme for at least 60 months (which generally means that they must have had a job and met a certain income level for 60 months).

A total of 5,938 permanent residence permits were issued to persons with protection or humanitarian status based on the general provisions, which is likely to include refugees as well.

Attitude towards existing foreign communities/minorities in the country :

Between 2014 and 2017, the percentage of people stating that “immigration of people from outside the EU” evoked “positive feelings” grew from 30% to 39%. Germany is not alone in this regard. A similar increase in positive attitudes to immigration seems to be taking place in much of Western Europe. In contrast, in Central and Eastern European countries attitudes seem to be hardening.

Attitudes to immigration however are a multidimensional construct. This means that, when forming attitudes, people consider the economic impact of immigration, its cultural impact, whether the country should have a moral obligation to take in migrants, whether migrants are refugees or have economic motivations and a plethora of other issues. A study by Purpose found that most Germans (58%) are neither completely “anti” or “pro” immigration but fall in an “anxious middle” (IPSOS, 2016). 21% of Germans reported being sceptical of the impact immigration could have on Germany but believed that the country had the moral duty to welcome certain migrants. Another fifth of the population considered immigrants an important economic asset for Germany but expressed concern about differences in lifestyle and values.

Access to healthcare :

When refugees first enter Germany, doctors examine them for communicable diseases. For this purpose, experts carry out an x-ray of the lungs. For people below 15 years of age and pregnant women, doctors perform blood or skin tests.

Asylum seekers can access health care if they have medical problems. In case of acute sickness or wounds and pain, doctors provide necessary care. Apart from these emergency services, doctors check cases individually to see whether medical aid is absolutely necessary to guarantee a person’s health. Pregnant women and nursing mothers, for example, receive the full spectrum of services, including midwives, medicines and bandages.

Some states in Germany, like Berlin, issue health insurance cards for refugees as soon as possible after they arrive in Germany. This enables the newcomers to access health care systems like any other legal person. However, a health insurance card can only be issued after refugees begin living in communes, which then enter into a contract with respective health insurance companies to issue a card. The company cannot be chosen by the refugees themselves.

THE JOB MARKET:

In what domain we can easily find a job :

Generally, the Federal Employment Agency is responsible for dealing with job vacancies in Germany. Refugees can register themselves at one of these offices (known in German as Agentur für Arbeit) if they are searching for work. There, they are able to receive advice or assistance.

There are also many private initiatives which specialize in bringing refugees and employers together. In many cities and towns, some local refugee centers also have notice boards, which are worth checking out.

It’s also possible to just approach local businesses for work. Currently, there are job vacancies in parts of the hospitality business, in trades and in certain specialized professions. A list of sectors where there are job vacancies: textiles, agriculture, mechanics, tourism.

In just about any sector, good knowledge of the German language is an important qualification. But, a refugee can first get language lessons when he or she has had her asylum status determined. That can often take many months.

What diplomas are the most required :

The more documents a refugee can show proving his qualifications – vocational training or studies – the better. As a general rule, a qualification will only be recognized in Germany if the relevant documents can be provided.

It may also be possible for refugees to sit a test to prove that they have a particular qualification. In these instances, the asylum seeker is submitted to technical interviews or has to provide a work sample. This only applies to some German states hower.

Germany’s Federal Employment Agency has a hotline where refugees can receive some initial advice either in German or English. There, they can also find out how they can get their qualification recognized in Germany.

The Ministry of Education and Research has created an online portal where you can get the necessary contact details for the recognition of various qualifications in different fields.

How difficultis the language of the country :

Many beginner level language students have the misconception that German is an almost impossible language to learn.

Seemingly endless compound words and the concept of noun genders is often enough to scare people off learning German for good. However, German actually isn’t nearly as hard to learn as you might think.

One of the main reasons German isn’t all that hard to learn is that German and English originate from the same language families and share more similarities than you probably realise. Both German and English are Indo-European languages that stem from the Germanic family of languages.

About 40% of German vocabulary is similar to English vocabulary, which is good news for native English speakers.

Can we finda job if wespeak English but not the native langage :

Germany is one of the greatest places to work in a productive way, specially for specialized subject oriented people. But, the biggest obstacle is that you need to know how to speak and write at least basic German.

If you are going there to work in a firm where you need to apply your english skills, then no need to learn German. There are jobs where they need only proficient English speakers.

But, the first step itself creates a hindrance that is visa application. While applying for work visa to Germany, the embassy will check if you can speak and write basic German. For getting a German visa, you need to pass at least two basic levels of German language i.e. A1 & A2. While going there, basics is fine, but still try to become as fluent with it as possible. ( This is only for non-EU citizens.)

Now, you get visa because of the basics. But when you go there and work with the German delegates, it’s mandatory to know the language or else they make you join a course and learn it.

Henceforth, you need to know German language for basic survival. You will find a lot of shops where some staff only speak German. Do not worry though, you can generally cruise around with a few catchy phrases and the rest you will pick up. 6 months on and I believe almost you can have the vocabulary of a 5 year old German child.

INTEGRATION

What is the general attitude towards refugees:

In recent years, researchers have instead attempted to divide the public into different segments based not only on their attitudes towards migration, but also their attitudes towards a number of related issues, including multiculturalism, diversity, social change and optimism about the future. Research employing this method of ‘attitudinal segmentation’ aims to map out segments of the population based on interlinked attitudes, with the rationale that this approach is likely to provide more telling insights into how attitudes are formed than demographic data alone. Although this approach pays attention to the demographic characteristics of population segments where these are particularly notable, the unique aspect of this approach is the underlying notion that demographics are not the main predictor of public attitudes.

This approach can be seen most clearly in the UK. The Fear and HOPE report series, for example, has segmented the public into six distinct ‘tribes’: ‘confident multiculturals’, ‘mainstream liberals’, ‘immigrant ambivalence’, ‘culturally concerned’, ‘latent hostiles’ and ‘active enmity’ (Lowles and Painter, 2011; Ford and Lowles, 2016). This has allowed researchers to track how these segments of the population have grown or diminished in size over time, with the notable finding that the group most positive towards refugees and migrants (‘confident multiculturals’) more than doubled between 2011 and 2016, while the most hostile group has shrunk.

A similar methodology in Germany has divided the German public into ‘liberal cosmopolitans’, ‘radical opponents’, ‘economic pragmatists’, ‘humanitarian sceptics’ and ‘moderate opponents’ (Purpose, 2017). This segmentation reveals distinctly ‘German’ features among these groups. In particular, the ‘humanitarian sceptics’ is a group of mainly older Germans who, although worried about refugees’ ability to integrate, see accepting refugees as a national obligation. This feature is likely linked to Germany’s history and constitution which, until 1993, enshrined an unqualified right of asylum for people who had suffered persecution.

Although a presently limited global evidence base renders cross-context comparisons of such segmentation difficult, there are indications that in most countries the largest part of the public appears to fall within a ‘conflicted’ or ‘anxious’ middle. They are less ideologically motivated than groups most confidently ‘for’ or ‘against’ immigration, and much more ambivalent towards refugees and migrants and their impacts on society (Purpose, 2017; Katwala et al., 2014). Individuals within this group tend to hold complex, and even conflicting, views, explaining notable inconsistencies and contradictions within polling data.

For example, Bansak et al. (2016) have found that, while Europeans prioritise asylum-seekers’ ability to contribute economically, they are also more accepting of asylum-seekers who are traumatised and vulnerable. In the UK, studies show that people are unlikely to agree that immigrants have made their area a better place to live, just as the vast majority recognise the sizeable contributions immigrants make to the National Health Service (Ashcroft, 2013). As discussed below, conflicting attitudes of this kind do not undermine the validity of these opinions, but instead underscore the complex web of concerns around which public attitudes towards refugees and migrants are formed.

Are the people in the country welcoming to strangers :

German millennials are the most welcoming of immigrants in all of Europe, in spite of a perceived increase in negative attitudes towards immigrants and refugees in the country.

A study of more than one million 18-34 year-olds from 35 European countries, led by German broadcasters ZDF, SWR and Bayerischer Rundfunk, reveals most young people have no confidence in their countries’ governments and religious institutions, while slightly less than half are pessimistic about their future.

On immigration, among more than 200,000 participants from 11 European countries, some 80 per cent of German youth believe that immigration enriches cultural diversity in their country.

Overall, an average of 73 per cent of European millennials felt positively about being part of a multi-cultural population.
Are there any associations/organisations that can help (Red Cross or others) : FZAA, HWWI, IMIS, BMI, BKA, Aktiv, Asvl in der Kirche e. V.

What is the official attitude of the government about the migrants : welcoming/unwanted:

As its neighbors began closing their borders to refugees, Germany confounded observers both at home and abroad by resolutely holding onto its open-door policy. Much has been conjectured about why Germany took the path that it did, but the key factors below explain what shaped the Federal Republic’s refugee policy:

1. Willkommenskultur

A survey commissioned by the Bertelsmann Stiftung found that Germans are increasingly more comfortable with the notion that Germany is becoming a country of immigrants, particularly in former West Germany. Although some right-wing movements, such as the Alternative for Germany (AfD), have gained momentum, the numbers show that a large majority of Germans believe their country should be open to seekers of refuge. Even in July 2015, when the inflow of asylum seekers had already increased considerably, 93 percent supported welcoming people who sought to escape war or civil conflict. Eighty percent expressed the view that Germany should accept people seeking refuge from political or religious persecution.

A more recent study confirms these findings: The average level of support for granting asylum to a person who is persecuted on political grounds is 94 percent.

This openness is also reflected in the public response to the refugee crisis. Many Germans have committed themselves to civil society initiatives that aid refugees arriving in the country, especially when German authorities were stretched to their limits. Civic activities include the provision of basic needs, such as accommodation, information, transportation and clothing.

2. Merkel’s Personal Project

Merkel is clearly the face of Germany’s refugee policy. Before the summer of 2015, Merkel’s style of politics was characterized by pragmatism and incremental steps, rather than following a sweeping political vision. Now, in a departure from her usual style, Merkel has made Germany’s open asylum policy her personal political project—despite strong resistance from many quarters.

Although observers can only speculate, many cite two encounters in particular as critical to shaping Merkel’s stance on refugees. In July 2015, Reem Sahwil, a 13-year-old Palestinian refugee, confronted the chancellor during a discussion with students in the northeastern city of Rostock. Sahwil spoke articulately in German about her desire to stay in the country and receive an education, but expressed anxiety that the uncertain status of her asylum claim left her future in doubt. Merkel stiffly explained that it was impossible for Germany to accept all refugees. The girl broke down in tears, the chancellor patted her on her shoulder in an awkward attempt at a comforting gesture, and a video of the interaction went viral.

In late August, Merkel visited a refugee shelter in the town of Heidenau, in the eastern state of Saxony. Outside the shelter, a furious crowd of German residents assembled, shouting insults at Merkel—a level of public confrontation she had not previously experienced in her tenure as chancellor.

Soon after these events, at her annual summer press conference in Berlin, Merkel changed her tone. She clearly articulated that Germany was strong enough to help all of those in need. This was the first time she uttered the “We can do it!” slogan. Merkel made a decision that Germany would honor its historical commitment to protect refugees. She had found her political project, her vision, and was ready to fight for it. Many commentators have linked this course to her personal biography, the daughter of a socialist pastor who grew up in East Germany behind a large fence. Some have even argued that she seemed more passionate and at ease with herself than ever.

Bibliography:

• https://www.asylumineurope.org/reports/country/germany/statistics
• https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Languages_of_Germany
• http://www.asylumineurope.org/reports/country/germany/content-international-protection/
• status-and-residence/long-term-residence
• https://www.diw.de/documents/publikationen/73/diw_01.c.415405.de/diw_sp0534.pdf
• http://www.infomigrants.net/en/post/4617/can-asylum-seekers-in-germany-get-medical-help-if-they-are-sick
• https://www.independent.co.uk/student/

german-millennials-most-welcoming-immigration-friendly-study-angela-merkel-a7672771.html

• https://euagenda.eu/upload/publications/untitled-92767-ea.pdf
• https://www.bfna.org/research/

germanys-response-to-the-refugee-situation-remarkable-leadership-or-fait-accompli/

• https://www.dw.com/en/when-refugees-want-to-work-in-germany/a-18737104
• https://jobboerse.arbeitsagentur.de/vamJB/
• startseite.html;jsessionid=yDwbWDQSh1B1l74MJz3cZk2JGfL9cQptcNzwyfGvf911vkSB03W1!127585498?m=1&aa=1
  This document wasprepared :            Julei Catalina

*thisprojectisfinanced by the European Union

 REFUGEE LOOKING FOR A JOB

COUNTRY of DESTINATION : Germany

 GENERAL INFORMATION

Number of refugees present in the country : 123, 909

Nationalities/ethnic groups present in the country (in percentage) :

Syria- 38.2% ; Iraq- 39% ; Afghanistan- 16.6% ; Eritrea- 54.2% ; Iran- 53.3% ; Turkey- 31.2% ; Nigeria- 9.5% ; Somalia- 35.7% ; Russian Fed.- 6.8% ; Undefined- 29.1%

Languages spoken in the country : German, English, French, Russian, Turkish, Polish, Spanish, Italian, Danish, Romanian, Arabic, Dutch.

Length to get the refugee status : Every applicant has their own administrative clerk. That’s why it’s possible that the applications of family members aren’t all dealt with at the same time. Usually, applications will be processed in a few months.Opportunities to speed up the process are few and far  between. Minors have the option to ask for preferential treatment.

Attitude towards existing foreign communities/minorities in the country : The German people support the current legal regulations although they believe that admitting refugees is not without its risks and disadvantages for their country. However, the data also show that in the view of many Germans, the normative obligation to assist no longer pertains if the reason for fleeing and the persecution cease to exist. Due to demographic change in Germany, it might be entirely in the national interest not to send refugees who, in the space of a few years, have become well integrated in the labor market and society back to their home countries as is typically done today but instead to offer them long-term prospects in Germany.

 Access to healthcare : easy / average / complicated / very complicated.

Refugees and asylum-seekers are granted access to medical care services by international law and, in the case of Germany, also by European Union directives and the German Constitution. After at most fifteen months, asylum seekers are entitled to full healthcare services and receive an electronic health card from a statutory health insurance scheme in accordance with book twelve of the Social Code (SGB). In October 2015, Germany adopted  the Asylverfahrensbeschleunigungsgesetz, a law to fast-track asylum applications. It makes obtaining an electronic health card  easier for asylum seekers even bef ore they have been in Germany for fifteen  months.  In Germany, access to the healthcare system is not regulated at national level. In some states, asylum seekers will receive an electronic health card  even before fifteen months.

 THE JOB MARKET:

In what domain we can easily find a job : There are jobs for refugees in the German labor market. And most of them are in the fields of medicine, civil engineering, and nursing. Refugees who have proper certification, training, and knowledge of the German language can begin working quickly after finishing with all the necessary paperwork. Small and medium-sized firms are also eager to expand their workforce by hiring refugees as reported in a recent survey. For refugees whose current asylum status is uncertain, many work in public service in jobs including helping other refugees and the homeless, cleaning up public places in the community, landscaping, and working in various food services.

What diplomas are the most required : Gaining access to the labour market is not always easy for immigrants. There are not enough jobs in every area of work, and job-seekers frequently have to have specific qualifications to take up a job. The starting point for better using the skills of asylum seekers and refugees is to take stock of the qualifications and skills that they already possess. Already well prior to the recent inflow of asylum seekers, Germany had put considerable effort into this. To improve the recognition of foreign qualifications a nation-wide framework was implemented with the introduction of the Recognition Act in 2012. Under this act, all migrants, including asylum seekers and refugees, with a qualification obtained abroad are legally entitled to go through a recognition process that tests whether their professional qualifications obtained abroad are equivalent to the respective qualification in Germany.

However, for the standard recognition process, migrants need to present documentation of their diplomas and qualification. Therefore, assessing the qualifications and skills of asylum seekers and refugees presents a new challenge as many of them have limited or no documentation.

How difficult is the language of the country :  Many who can read and write in scripts used for their own languages do not know the Latin alphabet. They have learned to read and, perhaps, to write in their own languages, but have lapsed into illiteracy due to a lack of application. This makes it all the more difficult for them to learn German, a requirement for attaining residency and asylum in Germany.Although German lessons are available free to refugees, many are still struggling with the language.

Can we find a job if we speak English but not the native language: Yes, you can find a job if you speak English but while you may find English-speaking jobs in Germany, you’ll need to be able to speak at least some German to get a job.

 INTEGRATION

What is the general attitude towards refugees : A a  methodology in Germany has divided the German public into ‘liberal cosmopolitans’, ‘radical opponents’, ‘economic pragmatists’, ‘humanitarian sceptics’ and ‘moderate opponents’ (Purpose, 2017). This segmentation reveals distinctly ‘German’ features among these groups. In particular, the ‘humanitarian sceptics’ is

a group of mainly older Germans who, although worried about refugees’ ability to integrate, see accepting refugees as a national obligation. In particular, people tend to be more favourably disposed towards those recognised as refugees than they are towards asylum-seekers and other migrants.

Are the people in the country welcoming to strangers : The Germans have a word: Willkommenskultur. It translates to “welcome culture,” and though it was coined a few years ago by politicians who wanted to encourage skilled migrants to move to Germany, it’s come to represent German generosity in the face of the refugee wave.

Are there any associations/organisations that can help (Red Cross or others) : Working collectively in cooperation with the refugees themselves, many Berlin-based organisations are developing ways to help the city’s newcomers. One of the most notable predecessors to the newfound diversity of creative efforts to aid refugees is Give Something Back To Berlin, which Annamaria Olsson founded in 2013. This platform is focused on organising a multitude of different grassroots volunteer efforts and intercultural activities. Another company geared towards empowering refugees is CUCULA, the Refugees Company for Crafts and Design. The organisation takes in refugees as trainees and teaches them craft and design skills, which they can use to find work upon completing the program. Additionally, CUCULA is set up to aid the refugees during their visa application processes, and to provide them housing in the interim.

Another creative-run effort to accommodate the influx of refugees in the city is Refugees on Rails, an initiative that teaches the newcomers how to code. In doing so, the team at Refugees on Rails is helping to boost economies throughout Europe while also giving refugees tools to better integrate into society. The project largely relies on the help of other IT professionals serving as volunteer buddies for the refugees enrolled in the program, along with donated laptops and other materials.

What is the official attitude of the government about the migrants : welcoming/unwanted

For decades, German policymakers and public dialogue perpetuated the perception that Germany was not a country of immigration, even as it was becoming one of the world’s top destinations (second only to the United States in recent years). Since the early 2000s, Germany has undergone a profound policy shift toward recognizing its status and becoming a country that emphasizes the integration of newcomers and the recruitment of skilled labor migrants. This approach to immigration and immigrants has been tested, however, amid the massive humanitarian inflows that began in 2015, which have stoked heated debate.

The country has begun to embrace its identity as a major magnet of migration. Paradigms have shifted away from migrants as temporary guests to necessary, valued, and long-term contributors to society. A massive overhaul of German migration and asylum laws, and profound shifts in citizenship requirements have enabled the country to tackle its migration challenges more effectively. During the last decade, Germany has moved from receiving just a few tens of thousands of humanitarian migrants per year to becoming the top destination country for asylum seekers worldwide.

Sources : www.asylumineurope.org

http://www.bamf.de

www.diw.de

https://theculturetrip.com

www.ft.com

www.expatica.com

www.oecd.org

www.ssoar.info

https://m.bpb.de

This document was prepared by : Raluca Sandu