Government wants temporary work ban and tighter visa restrictions for asylum seekers
The Swiss government is continuing to maintain that there should be a temporary work ban for asylum seekers from Kosovo and a return to more stringent visa regulations. The cantons and refugee organisations oppose the measures.
The Swiss government is continuing to maintain that there should be a temporary work ban for asylum seekers from Kosovo and a return to more stringent visa regulations. The cantons and refugee organisations oppose the measures.
The government repeated its demands at a special session on Friday, a day after politicians, the police and refugee organisations failed to reach agreement on the issues.
The federal chancellery said a work ban would be a clear signal that the refugees should return to Kosovo. It emphasised that for those refugees seeking temporary protection, integration was not the government’s goal.
The cantons have until August 19 to state their opinions on the issue. In the meantime, the Justice Ministry has advised cantons only to provide asylum seekers with work permits in exceptional cases.
The government also wants to reintroduce the former – more stringent – regulations under which Kosovar refugees are only granted a visa if they have a return ticket. This should replace the system under which those with siblings in Switzerland are granted a visa, said the government.
Source: sda-ats
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