Refugee crisisSwitzerland to seize assets from refugees to cover upkeep costs
In a move which mirrors a policy approved by the Danish parliament earlier this week, the Swiss government announced that refugees arriving in Switzerland have begun to turn over to government agencies any assets worth more than 1,000 Swiss francs (£690). Refugees who are approved for staying and working in Switzerland have to surrender 10 percent of their pay for up to ten years until they repay 15,000 Swiss francs in costs.
In a move which mirrors a policy approved by the Danish parliament earlier this week (see “Danish parliament to approve seizure of valuables from asylum seekers,” HSNW, 13 January 2016), the Swiss government announced that refugees arriving in Switzerland have begun to turn over to government agencies any assets worth more than 1,000 Swiss francs (£690).
The money will be used to help pay the costs of refugee sheltering and upkeep.
The Swiss SRF’s 10vor10 TV news program showed a receipt a refugee from Syria received for turning over cash upon entering Switzerland, and an information sheet for refugees which stated: “If you have property worth more than 1,000 Swiss francs when you arrive at a reception center you are required to give up these financial assets in return for a receipt.”
Stefan Frey, from refugee aid group Schweizerische Fluechtlingshilfe, told SRF that “This is undignified … This has to change.”
SRF cited the State Secretariat for Migration (SEM) to say that the law called for asylum seekers and refugees to contribute when possible to the cost of processing their applications and providing assistance.
An SEM spokeswoman told SRF: “If someone leaves voluntarily within seven months this person can get the money back and take it with them. Otherwise the money covers costs they generate.”
Refugees who are approved for staying and working in Switzerland have to surrender 10 percent of their pay for up to ten years until they repay 15,000 Swiss francs in costs, according to the SRF report.
