Germany to allow asylum seekers to work sooner

The German government introduced a draft legislation on Wednesday to enable asylum seekers to get their work permits faster.

Interior Minister Nancy Faeser said the new package of measures will improve social integration, by easing conditions for access to the labor market.

"We want to make the best possible use of the professional potential and qualifications of people already living in Germany. To do this, we need to get them into work as quickly as possible," she told a news conference in Berlin.

Faeser underlined that the new measures will only apply to the asylum seekers who really need protection in Germany.

"Those who come from safe countries, whose asylum applications are clearly unfounded, or who refuse to clarify their identity, they will not be allowed to work," she said.

Germany's current legislation involves various prohibitions and restrictions for asylum seekers to apply for a job in the country, while their asylum applications are processed.

According to the new regulation, asylum seekers will be able to take up employment after three months at the earliest, and six months at the latest, depending on their specific situation.

Asylum seekers, who have a "tolerated status" in Germany, will also be granted a work permit as a rule.

Currently, more than 200,000 asylum seekers have temporary permission to stay in Germany, as their applications are not accepted, but they cannot be deported to their country of origin, due to factual or legal reasons.

Interior Ministry sources said the new regulation will enhance social integration, and will also relieve the economic burden on cities and municipalities due to the growing number of refugees arriving in Germany.