"Social tourism" from Ukraine in the district?

“There is no data basis for this”

Created: 09/28/2022, 19:00

By: Andreas Steppan

Andreas Baumann Head of the job center.

© arp

With the statement that there is "social tourism" among refugees from Ukraine, Friedrich Merz kicked up a lot of dust.

Andreas Baumann from the job center comments on this with a view to the district.

The CDU chairman, Friedrich Merz, accused refugees of coming to Germany to receive basic security benefits, then going back to Ukraine and returning to Germany to receive social benefits again.

From the point of view of Andreas Baumann, managing director of the Tölz job center, this assertion can neither be completely dismissed nor proven.

Mr Baumann, what do you think of Friedrich Merz addressing alleged “social tourism” by Ukrainian refugees?

You can address it.

The extent to which this corresponds to the facts, however, simply lacks the data basis.

According to your observation, does the phenomenon exist in the district?

In any case, we keep getting requests for absence from the Ukraine from refugees.

That means they go home for 14 days, for example.

You will not receive any benefits during this time.

At our information events, the question often came up as to whether it was possible to travel home to the Ukraine.

We have to assume that not every absence is reported to us.

Hardly any control

Can you check whether a benefit recipient is on site?

We hardly have a chance there.

You would have to go to the person's house.

And even if I ring the bell and nobody opens the door, that doesn't mean he's not in the country.

But the accusation of "social tourism" cannot be generalized.

also read

Tölz Parish Church: Alcoholic beverages placed on the altar

Skiing fun at Brauneck is becoming significantly more expensive: Prices for the coming season have been published

Of course not.

There are also enough Ukrainians who take up work with us.

And everyone comes to appointments to which we invite people, for example at our job fair, where around 600 to 700 people from Ukraine were there.

And how does the placement of Ukrainian refugees in the labor market work in general?

Differing.

Many people still have the language problem.

And among the refugees there are also many mothers who are alone with their children, so there is a problem with looking after them.

It often works best in companies that already have Russian or Ukrainian employees who can help with the language.

(Our Bad Tölz newsletter keeps you regularly informed about all the important stories from your region. Register here.)