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German Companies Give Refugees in Germany a Chance

Refugees in GermanyGerman chancellor Angela Merkel has made refugees in Germany a priority. As the Syrian refugee crisis unfolded, the chancellor decided on an open-door policy, which allowed over one million refugees to resettle in Germany. Recently, Merkel urged German corporations to integrate refugees into companies more quickly, arguing that refugee employment will support the German economy. And there is no shortage of refugees in Germany who are ready to work; the latest reports provided by the Federal Employment Agency state that 346,000 people with asylum status sought employment in the month of August alone.

Large German companies are hesitant to hire refugees for a myriad of reasons. Companies argue that they do not want to risk their productivity by employing refugees who don’t currently possess the necessary skills. Companies may also have qualms about the fact that many refugees have yet to become fluent in German, and that 80 percent of asylum seekers do not possess a primary- or secondary-level education.

Legal issues still remain, such as incomplete paperwork for asylum approval and a lack of proper identification for background checks. Merkel and some German companies, however, are working to make it easier for refugees to land jobs that not only provide income but also the skills necessary to be qualified contenders in the job market.

Despite the trepidation of some German companies towards refugee employment, many are using the influx of people to their advantage. Germany’s national rail carrier, Deutsche Bahn, announced that over the next two years it will create room for an additional 150 refugees in its qualification program, which includes German language courses. Deutsche Post currently employs more than 100 refugees, and national internet service provider Deutsche Telekom plans to hire 75 refugees through an apprenticeship program as well. Companies such as Mercedes, Siemens and Daimler have even created pre-training programs to prepare refugees for apprenticeships.

With the support of German companies, refugees in Germany can build better lives.

– Mariana Camacho

Photo: Flickr

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An Unforeseen Effect of Poverty: Violence Against Women

An Unforeseen Effect of Poverty: Violence Against Women
In the wake of the Nirbhaya, a documentary that focuses on the sexual aggression and brutality enacted against an Indian woman in an impoverished region of India, Prime Minister Manmohan has addressed an unforeseen effect of poverty: violence against women.

On Thursday, Manmohan met in Berlin with Angela Merkel to discuss the economy which undoubtedly led to a discussion of the social evils which spring from poverty. Merkel, Chancellor of Germany, addressed the issue of the Indian economy by stating that scientific development and cooperation in the agricultural sector would be pivotal in lasting economic growth and stability in the relatively new democracy.

However, Merkel made note that a theoretical debate about economic solutions and social evils is an easy task when the conversation is being held nearly 5,000 miles away from the sources of issues.

Despite how well-functioning a democracy may be, the recurring trend of social injustice and violence against women continues to center around poverty. Impoverished communities continue to be subject to higher levels of domestic violence and social evils as well as only provide a weaker resistance against terrorism or extremist persuasion.

In the fight to gain rights for women globally, poverty continues to affect women more harshly than men. Rights for women begins at satiating the basic needs of impoverished communities and lifting those communities out of poverty.

– Pete Grapentien

Source: The Times of India
Photo: Times of India