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No more cash: The SVP St. Gallen demands that asylum seekers in the canton no longer receive their support money directly, but have it paid out via a special bank card.
This system, inspired by the German Socialcard, is intended to control the use of funds and ensure that asylum seekers use them for their livelihood in Switzerland. The SVP states that social assistance money should not be used to send them to their home country to support their relatives. The online portal “FM1 Today” reported about this for the first time.
Less bureaucracy
The Socialcard is already used in some German states. Asylum seekers receive their social assistance payments on this card. On the one hand, the federal states argue that this should enable non-discriminatory access to cashless payments. On the other hand, payout processes would become leaner and more digital. In short: less bureaucracy, lower personnel costs.
However, the Socialcard cannot be used for all expenses and cash withdrawals. That is also the main argument of the SVP St. Gallen. She sees this as an ideal solution to monitor the expenditure of funds.
A similar idea was rejected by the St. Gallen canton council a year ago. But the SVP sees the current situation as an opportunity to benefit from the German experience and is now raising the issue again.
SP suspects election campaign tactics
Critics see the idea as disproportionate – such as Jürg Eberle, head of St. Gallen’s migration office. He states in the report that the amount that asylum seekers receive is already modest, because benefits are mainly offered in kind. The pocket money is 140 francs per month.
SP cantonal councilor Dario Sulzer also sees the SVP’s demand mainly as an election campaign tactic. He doubts their chances of success. And argues to “FM1 Today” that abuse of social services occurs in a small percentage of the population. That’s why he doesn’t think it’s right to rethink the entire system. Sulzer also finds it problematic that the canton acquits the municipalities in this case. (oco)
Source:Blick
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