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In an emotional performance, a refugee Ukrainian mother confronted politicians with their reality. It was controversial in the debate how to proceed with the status S.
“I’ve already written over a hundred applications. So far, the answer has always been negative, »said the Ukrainian Elena Chepurenko about her experiences when looking for a job in Switzerland. Chepurenko fled Kiev with her mother and daughter. They have been staying with a host family in Rorschach for around ten months.
Like Elena Chepurenko, who has a master’s degree in economics and many years of work experience in the financial sector, many Ukrainians with protection status S in Switzerland are well educated and motivated to work. But they can’t find a job.
This is mainly due to the return-oriented protection status S, according to Chepurenko: “Employers are not sure whether I will stay here for the duration of the employment contract.” Nobody knows how long the war will last. “The social welfare office says we have to integrate and at the same time we should go again.”
It leads to great resentment among the population when refugees drive around in SUVs and receive social assistance at the same time.
“The S status was introduced because it was thought that the war would soon be over,” said Lucerne’s district president and social director Guido Graf. Now the status has to be adjusted so that the refugees can be better integrated into the labor market. Such workers are wanted.
In addition, the protection status S is subject to a “system error”: “It leads to great resentment among the population when refugees drive around in an SUV and at the same time receive social assistance,” says Graf. The refugees from Ukraine not only receive privileges that are difficult to explain, they also have high expectations of the state. Graf called for equal treatment of the various groups of refugees and welfare recipients living in Switzerland. “Otherwise the solidarity can hardly be maintained.”
“Even rich refugees need protection,” Green National Councilor Irène Kälin countered his statement. In addition, it is mainly women with children who come. “Ukraine is a progressive country, people are used to the fact that there are day structures that complement families and schools.” Such offers are lacking in some places, so it is understandable if the Ukrainians are somewhat demanding. However, Kälin agreed with Graf that differentiating between refugees of different origins was not expedient.
Switzerland does a lot, but we can’t take everyone.
SVP National Councilor Benjamin Fischer is convinced that a lot has been going wrong in the asylum and refugee system for years. “Switzerland does a lot, but we can’t take everyone in.” A distinction must be made between refugees who are threatened with life and limb and those who are not. With protection status S, there is no case-by-case assessment, the refugees are accepted across the board. “If protection status S were to be revoked, each of these refugees could submit a regular application for asylum. That level would be unacceptable.” Instead, a solution must be found that depends on how many people return home.
Unlike Fischer, SP national councilor Samira Marti also draws positive conclusions from the generosity of the past year. Investing more money so that the refugees can get an education and offering support and access to the labor market not only leads to lower social welfare costs, it is also the best reconstruction aid for Ukraine. “Politicians must not set up unnecessary hurdles for the refugees, rather they should create trust,” says Marti.