GELO sets a good example

Wunsiedler economy relies on refugees

"This agreement is unparalleled nationwide." This was emphasized on Wednesday afternoon by Thomas Zimmer, President of the Chamber of Crafts for Upper Franconia. Young refugees who are currently condemned to inactivity and are waiting in various institutions in the Wunsiedel district for a decision on their asylum application can now begin a three-year training course. This is made possible by the Upper Franconia Chamber of Industry and Commerce, the employment agency, the Chamber of Crafts for Upper Franconia and the Wunsiedel district. Representatives of these four parties signed a paper yesterday that expands the discretionary powers of the immigration authorities. They want the young people to no longer be left hanging in the air.

The training program is primarily aimed at unaccompanied young people who have fled to Germany alone from countries at war and have found shelter in the Wunsiedel district. Not only there, because according to Zimmer, this sign of integrating refugees has already been set throughout Upper Franconia.

"We want to achieve legal certainty for our companies and for the refugees alike," stressed District Administrator Dr. Karl Döhler at the signing ceremony in the Wunsiedel District Office. "Anyone who has received training should be able to complete it here," said Döhler. If they successfully complete their training, the young asylum seekers will also be granted a two-year residence permit if they are able to support themselves.

According to Christi Degen, managing director of the Upper Franconia Chamber of Industry and Commerce, 80 companies have agreed to train young asylum seekers. However, the prerequisite for this is that they can already speak German to a certain extent and are under 21 years of age.

According to Döhler, there are currently 862 refugees in the Wunsiedel district, 57 of whom are unaccompanied and housed in youth welfare facilities. The agreement was initiated by the business community. Thomas Zimmer emphasized: "Our companies want planning security when they train a young person. With this agreement, we are also sending a second signal, namely that we welcome people here."

Maximilian von Waldenfels from the Marktredwitz-Selb Chamber of Industry and Commerce said that the refugee issue also affects companies in both their heads and hearts. "We could counteract the shortage of skilled workers," which is worrying given the number of students, and also do something to help integrate refugees. "Now we need German flexibility, not German thoroughness." This path is certainly rocky, but companies are taking on this socio-political challenge.

Sebastian Peine, Chairman of the Management Board of the Bayreuth-Hof Employment Agency, is certain that this represents a great opportunity for both sides. 70 percent of the refugees are under 35 years old. With training, the young refugees can use their time sensibly while they wait for their asylum process to be completed. "This is also important for the young people, because according to our agreement they cannot be deported during this training." It is the "famous win-win situation" for both sides and the region as well.

According to Christi Degen, one-week and then four-week internships will be used to filter out who is suitable for which training. The people who are looking for this will be found in the vocational schools, because what is being done there is nothing short of heroic. The training offer is initially aimed at unaccompanied refugees, but young asylum seekers who have come to the Wunsiedel district with their relatives will also be able to benefit from the agreement.

"I am proud to be able to sign this agreement," said district master craftsman Christian Herpich. It is also important for the crafts sector to have planning security, "but we also want to integrate young people into our country." This security also gives the refugees great motivation to learn.

Sebastian Peine is trying to make our region attractive to young people from war zones because many are drawn to the urban centers. "We have ideal conditions. On the one hand, there is a lot of free and, above all, affordable housing, good companies that provide training, and less unemployment than in the centers where the refugees believe they can find a new home."

Source: Text Frankenpost – Photo: Florian Miedl