Workers’Day: Seebrüecke seeks end to work, employment bans for refugees

As the world celebrates Workers’Day today, May 1, 2024, Seebrüecke International a German NGO that wants safe passage and end to criminalisation of civil sea rescue has called for an end to work and employment bans for refugees and the abolition of the so-called Asylum Seekers’ Benefits Act

In a statement marking the celebration, Seebrüecke International said: “Let’s take to the streets on May 1st! On today’s International Day of Struggle of the Labour Movement, we demand an end to work and employment bans for refugees and the abolition of the so-called Asylum Seekers’ Benefits Act.
All people who want to work must be granted the right to good, fair-paying work!”

The NGO also vociferously called for an end to exploitation in sectors such as care, the meat and agricultural industries or transport, where a particularly large number of mobile workers, people affected by racism and people with uncertain residence status work.

“We are also calling for an end to being forced to be exploited under the slogan of ‘labour market integration’ in order to secure residency or be recognised by society.

“Migration policies based on economic benefit – i.e. exploitability on the labour market – must be overcome once and for all!”

It added that the history of the labour movement is shaped by the struggles of migrants, such as the wild strikes of so-called ‘guest workers’ in the 1970s. An anti-racist movement must also be thought of together with labour struggles today. “With this in mind, have a strong 1st May!,” Seebrüecke International said.