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After the New Year’s Eve riots in Berlin, a debate about migration policy also flared up in Germany. But the riots in the German capital cannot simply be transferred to Switzerland.
Sven ZauggEditor Sunday view
After the New Year’s Eve riots in Berlin, a debate about migration policy also flared up in Germany. But the riots in the German capital cannot simply be transferred to Switzerland.
Abroad, the predominantly young perpetrators are primarily characterized by their anger at the state, unemployment and socialization problems. In Switzerland, however, things are comparatively quiet – except for skirmishes under the influence of alcohol and drugs. There can hardly be any talk of “lost youth”, “failed integration” or “migrants left behind”.
Denise Efionayi-Mäder, a migration researcher from the University of Neuchâtel, emphasizes that although not all of the state’s efforts are fruitful and integration sometimes takes a long time, conditions are far removed from those in the large European cities: “The socio-economic conditions in this country are much better.”
12 percent neither in their studies nor in teaching
In concrete terms, the public schools are equally good everywhere, whether in rich or poor neighborhoods, education funds are available, language courses or private tutoring are institutionalized. In addition, the dual education system offers the opportunity to advance. According to Efionayi, the procedures have been accelerated with the revision of the asylum law. Refugees spend less time in stand-by mode – the frustration of waiting is less.
But two numbers make you sit up and take notice: in 2021, almost 12 percent of 18 to 24-year-olds with a first-generation migration background were neither studying nor doing an apprenticeship. Nothing has changed in this value for ten years now. In the case of the local youth, this only applies to a good two percent.
And: For temporarily admitted refugees of the same age, the unemployment rate is still over 40 percent five years after entry. Switzerland cannot be satisfied with that, says migration researcher Efionayi. Looking back over the past few years, the State Secretariat for Migration (SEM) has determined that the integration of training and employment among temporarily admitted young people and refugees has “gradually improved”.
SEM spokesman Samuel Wyss says: “This is likely to be due, among other things, to the various measures newly introduced by the federal government and the cantons to promote employability.” The strategy of the revised integration agenda: work through education. While migrants used to be brought onto the labor market as quickly as possible, today the focus is on education and language acquisition “to meet the increased demands of the Swiss labor market,” explains Wyss.
Lack of equal opportunities
Despite all the measures, it would be presumptuous to speak of equal opportunities, says Efionayi: “Cantonal differences in particular mean that young migrants do not have the same opportunities.” If you end up in the canton of Jura, for example, where jobs are rare, you have to be patient.
The unions see another problem: Unia youth secretary Julius Kopp criticizes that companies often pay employees without a Swiss passport less. One is still a long way from the ideal of equal pay for equal work and fair access to education and training for everyone. According to Kopp, the lack of recognition of foreign diplomas and the precarious residence status are additional negative factors in determining wages.
First-generation migrants and refugees between the ages of 15 and 24 are particularly affected. More than 60 percent work as panel layers, floor layers, heating or plumbing fitters – and thus for low wages.
Cheap labor instead of proper training
For many young migrants, the problems begin even before the apprenticeship begins. They often do not get the apprenticeships they want because they are assigned to certain groups of origin. And: The difficulties don’t stop when the apprenticeship begins.
The trade unionist Kopp: “Instead of receiving a proper education, young migrants are often used as cheap labour.” This has dramatic consequences: Many rattle through the final exam.
Figures from the Federal Statistical Office (BFS) show: In 2021, more than 25 percent of the apprentices failed the plate layers alone. A number that is representative of the misery in manual trades with an above-average proportion of foreigners.
The unions are therefore demanding stricter supervision: “Vocational training offices must monitor the training companies more and more systematically,” says Kopp. But last but not least, there is a lack of will and human resources. In fact, vocational training offices rarely intervene and withdraw the training permit from offending companies.
The existing structures should be expanded and improved so that Switzerland does not have to debate “migrants left behind” in the future, says migration researcher Efionayi. And warns: “If the centre-right keeps trying to cut back on those who have been temporarily admitted, we will never achieve the goal of fair integration.”