Recommendation Solicited for a Directive Safeguarding Workers from Various Exposure Risks, Encompassing Multiple Exposure Risks in Total

In recent years, Germany has seen a significant influx of immigrants, with approximately 6.5 million people arriving since 2015, according to the Federal Statistical Office. This influx includes a notable number of people from countries such as Romania, Poland, and the eight most frequent non-EU asylum countries of origin, including Afghanistan, Syria, Iraq, Iran, Nigeria, Pakistan, Somalia, and Eritrea.

Of these immigrants, around 31% came for work, employment, studies, or training. As for their employment status, 60 percent of those who are of working age stated that they are employed, 7 percent are unemployed, and 33 percent are non-employed persons, as reported by the Federal Statistical Office.

The employment rate among working-age people (15 to under 65 years old) from these countries was approximately 47.6 percent in May 2025. This employment rate corresponds to around 760,000 people in employment. It's important to note that this figure includes approximately 930,000 immigrants who are still receiving citizen's allowance alongside sometimes low-paid jobs.

Refugees, in particular, face challenges when starting work due to factors such as traumatic experiences, lack of preparation for migration, low or non-transferable educational qualifications, institutional factors in the target countries, and discrimination. However, the longer refugees stay in Germany, the higher their employment rate becomes. For instance, the employment rate of refugees who came to Germany in 2015, as reported by the Institute for Employment Research (IAB), is 64 percent, higher than the one indicated by Linnemann.

Not all of the 6.5 million people are refugees. In fact, about a quarter of those who fled from Ukraine are under 18 years old. The employment rate of Ukrainian refugees in Germany, as reported by the Federal Institute for Population Research, was 30 percent in October 2024.

State measures, such as accelerated asylum procedures, integration and language courses, and labor market support, have had an effect, but there are still challenges in the professional integration of women, older people, and in the income level of refugees. Additionally, there are no employment data exclusively for refugees, according to the Mediendienst Integration.

It's also worth mentioning that another 27% of the immigrants came within the framework of family reunification or family foundation. In 2024, a third of the visas issued within this framework went to minors.

In conclusion, while there are significant challenges facing immigrants and refugees in Germany, particularly in terms of employment, the employment rates among working-age immigrants and refugees have been steadily increasing over the years. The German government continues to implement measures to support the integration and employment of these individuals, with the aim of improving their overall living and working conditions in the country.

Recommendation Solicited for a Directive Safeguarding Workers from Various Exposure Risks, Encompassing Multiple Exposure Risks in Total