Angela Merkel and Werner Faymann have called for EU states to step up to help refugees. They pushed for the so-called 'hotspots' to be implemented and also suggested closer cooperation with Turkey.
Image: Reuters/H. Hanschke
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German Chancellor Angela Merkel and her Austrian counterpart, Werner Faymann, on Thursday praised each other's close cooperation, while calling on other countries to do more to help the growing refugee crisis.
Merkel also expressed solidarity with France following the attacks in Paris on Friday.
"This is an attack on our basic values, on our way of life, on freedom... and all of the freedom-loving countries on earth must stand together in all areas to find the perpetrators and also to protect and secure our way of life," she said.
German companies start refugee programs
Several large corporations have launched initiatives aimed at facilitating refugees’ entry into the German labor market. But what exactly are SAP or Daimler doing to make integration in the workplace easier?
Image: DW/C. Röder
Preparation for the labor market
The world's largest chemical group, BASF, wants to prepare 50 refugees for entry into the German world of work. For a year, they will receive language and further training, in order to then start an apprenticeship or job. BASF has approximately 50,000 employees in Germany alone.
Image: picture alliance/Keystone/J. Zick
Internships at Daimler
The carmaker has taken on 40 new trainees in recent weeks. Within 14 weeks, the refugees will have learned simple production tasks. The Federal Employment Agency provides these so-called “bridge internships” and covers the costs for the first six weeks. In the remaining eight weeks Daimler will pay its interns the minimum wage and finance their language courses.
Image: picture-alliance/dpa/B. Weißbrod
Job ads on the internet
Since the beginning of September, Deutsche Telekom has offered more than 70 placements on the main refugee internet platform "worker." These positions are paid based on their length, either in a lump sum or the minimum wage. In addition, the Group plans to create 100 additional training places for refugees next year. Deutsche Telekom employs 120,000 people countrywide.
Image: picture-alliance/dpa/J. Stratenschulte
Further training for electrical engineers
Refugees with professional experience may undergo a shortened training program to become an electrician at Deutsche Bahn. The program will take nearly two and a half years, a year less than the normal. Currently, 15 people seeking asylum are undergoing placements at Deutsche Bahn, with nine to follow. The group said it would like to take on all 24 trainees at the end of the program.
Image: picture-alliance/dpa/F. May
German courses and internships
Siemens is currently offering ten internships for refugees. Next year, the technology group plans to expand its program, providing up to 100 internships for refugees nationwide. Siemens also plans to introduce four types of German courses for 16 refugees at a time, to prepare them for the workplace. With 115,000 employees, Siemens is the seventh largest company in Germany.
Image: picture-alliance/dpa/R. Jensen
Only for the highly qualified
Software manufacturer SAP wants to provide at least 100 internships for refugees in the coming year. The openings are primarily for the highly qualified. As such, the group expects basic technical knowledge and a university degree or an equivalent qualification. SAP also plans to create ten additional places in a dual degree program, in business computer science.
Image: picture-alliance/Sven Simon/B. Lauter
Not just the big companies
The entry of refugees into the workplace incurs bureaucratic red tape for all companies, regardless of their size. Nevertheless, alongside the big corporations, many middle and smaller size companies are also getting involved in helping refugees find their way into the workplace.
Image: DW/C. Röder
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Merkel then went on to thank Faymann for his partnership, as both Germany and Austria continue to work closely to mitigate the ongoing refugee crisis.
The German chancellor also emphasized, however, that other EU countries, especially those on the bloc's external border, must do more to stem the flow of migrants.
"The hotspots need to be put quickly into place in Italy and Greece," she said, referring to registration centers intended to screen incoming migrants before they enter the EU.
'No easy solution'
Faymann also called on other countries to play a larger role in the crisis.
The Austrian chancellor acknowledged there was no easy solution to the refugee situation. Among the more controversial options he and Merkel were pursuing was closer cooperation with Turkey, including the payment of 3 million euro ($3.2 million) to Ankara.
Faymann said while such a deal with Turkey had not yet been reached, it was still on the table.
As for the refugees themselves, Faymann emphasized that "they are victims, not perpetrators."
