Germany news: New rules aim to give asylum-seekers job access

DW News · Feb 22, 2026 · Collected from RSS

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Skip next section What you need to knowWhat you need to know Germany's interior minister wants to make it easier for asylum-seekers to start working in Germany German director Ilker Catak has won the top film prize at the Berlinale SPD welcomes CDU support for social media ban for under 14s and calls for swift implementation Read below for updates of the main headlines from Germany on Sunday, February 22: Skip next section Germany to speed up asylum-seeker access to job market February 22, 2026Germany to speed up asylum-seeker access to job market German Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt says he wants to speed up the integration of asylum-seekers into the workforce. In an interview with the Sunday edition of the tabloid Bild newspaper, he said he had drawn up an "immediate employment plan" that would allow asylum-seekers to get a job after three months in Germany. "Anyone who comes here should be able to work — and quickly," Dobrindt said. "The best form of integration is into the world of work." According to the report, migrants would be able to start working even if their asylum applications were still being processed. A spokeswoman for Dobrindt told Bild that whether an asylum-seeker chose to work or not would have no influence on the outcome of their asylum claim. She added that those who did work would generally be able to keep their earnings, and that any income would be offset against social benefits received. Asylum-seekers who have already been rejected or do not cooperate with authorities, for example by providing false information, would be excluded from the plan, the newspaper reported. https://p.dw.com/p/59D8nSkip next section German chamber of commerce warns of rising risks in China businessFebruary 22, 2026German chamber of commerce warns of rising risks in China businessThe German Chamber of Industry and Commerce (DIHK) says doing business with China comes with increasing risks, as the country expands its position in global markets. "This presents opportunities for German companies, for example through strong technological progress and local innovation," DIHK President Peter Adrian told the German news agency dpa. "However, this is offset by growing risks, such as government intervention and unequal competitive conditions." The warning comes ahead of German Chancellor Friedrich Merz's planned trip to Beijing on Tuesday. Last year, China was Germany's most important trading partner, with the volume of imports and exports totalling €251.8 billion ($296.6 billion), according to the latest German government data. At the same time, German companies have complained of increasing barriers in the Chinese market. Beijing has also restricted exports of rare earths — critical raw materials used in products such as mobile phones and electric motors. "I am counting on the Chancellor to represent the interests of the German economy in Beijing," said Adrian, noting that the Chinese market still offers German companies opportunities when it comes to "renewable energies, the circular economy, medical technology and large infrastructure projects." https://p.dw.com/p/59DFTSkip next section SPD calls for swift action on social media ban for kidsFebruary 22, 2026SPD calls for swift action on social media ban for kidsGermany's Social Democrats (SPD) have welcomed a decision by coalition partner the conservative Christian Democrats (CDU) to ban social media for children under the age of 14. At a party conference in Stuttgart on Saturday, the CDU passed a motion to implement a ban for the age group, as well as introduce more stringent checks for teens and fines for online platforms that fail to comply. SPD Secretary General Tim Klüssendorf told the newspapers of the Redaktionsnetzwerk Deutschland on Sunday that the ruling coalition should now move swiftly to make the ban a reality. "We finally need clear rules on digital platforms. Addiction-inducing algorithms, hate, and bullying are a massive problem for our entire society and can be particularly dangerous and harmful to children and young people," he said. The SPD has previously called for social media platforms to be banned for children under 14, and for children under 16 to only be able to access versions of platforms free from algorithm-controlled reward and recommendation systems. Speaking to the tabloid Bild on Sunday, SPD parliamentary secretary Dirk Wiese also welcomed the CDU's support for the measure. "Now we should work together to pass a concrete law in the German Bundestag very soon," he said. Norway, Greece, the UK, Denmark, Italy and the Netherlands are among a host of European countries discussing a similar form of ban, while the EU has increasingly moved toward supporting the principle. Australia last year enforced a law that blocks minors under the age of 16 from having social media accounts on platforms like TikTok, Instagram, YouTube, Facebook and Reddit.Pros and cons of a social media ban for childrenTo view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video https://p.dw.com/p/59DF0Skip next section German filmmaker wins Golden Bear at Berlinale February 22, 2026German filmmaker wins Golden Bear at Berlinale The Berlin International Film Festival’s top prize, the Golden Bear, has gone to the political drama "Yellow Letters," by German director Ilker Catak. The Turkish-language film follows a married couple whose relationship is tested as it comes under extraordinary political pressure. "Yellow Letters" was decidedly the most political of all 22 works in the main competition, an apt conclusion to an event overshadowed by political debates. Read more here. https://p.dw.com/p/59DAjSkip next section Welcome to our coverageFebruary 22, 2026Welcome to our coverageNatalie Muller | Jenipher Camino GonzalezGuten tag from the DW newsroom in Bonn, where we will be bringing you the latest headlines from Germany on this rainy Sunday. Germany's interior minister has unveiled plans to make it easier for asylum-seekers to start working after just three months in the country. He said the goal was to speed up the integration of new arrivals. Meanwhile, Germany's Social Democrats have welcomed support from their coalition partner to ban social media for children under 14. Stay tuned as we bring you these stories and more. https://p.dw.com/p/59D8pShow more posts