Duisburg's payment card for refugees: criticism and resistance grow!

Duisburg's payment card for refugees: criticism and resistance grow!

The introduction of a payment card for refugees in Duisburg and Hesse is heavily criticized. Representatives of the parliamentary groups DIE LINKE/DIE PARTION and BUNDIS 90/The Greens consider that this measure not only restricts the people concerned, but also stigmatizes. The administration is confronted with increased workload by implementing the payment card, which does not adequately take into account the basic needs of the refugees.

According to the current regulation, refugees may only withdraw up to 50 euros cash per month and person. This means that they are severely limited in their purchasing power and are increasingly dependent on offers from weekly and flea markets. Transfers are completely excluded with this card, which makes it difficult for refugee relatives abroad - just 7% of refugees in Duisburg have been able to transfer money abroad in the past. This tendency also shows that the transfers are becoming less and less.

criticism and resistance

The stop of such transfers and the restriction to cash lets many refugees who are already in financial need. Barbara Laakmann, chair of the DIE LINKE/DIE party parliamentary group, assesses the payment card as discriminatory and as a harassment, while Felix Lütke, chairman of the Greens parliamentary group, also favors the retention of previous practices. Laws are already being prepared to act against the discriminatory effects of the payment card.

In Hessen, the introduction of a similar payment card was considered as part of the plan to combat illegal migration and tractor crime. However, this card, which looks like a debit card, has extensive restrictions. In addition to the fixed cash withdrawal of 50 euros, there are also restrictions on transfers. According to hessenschau.de the implementation of the payment card in Hessen has to struggle with massive technical problems. The Hessian Refugee Council criticizes the high administrative effort and the ambiguities about the usability of the card.

technical challenges

The first payment cards were already issued in the initial reception facility in Gießen at the end of December 2024, but the rollout was never fully carried out in ten out of fifteen Hessian counties. The municipalities of Darmstadt and Frankfurt fight with delays due to the lack of interfaces between map service providers and city administrations. A social department from Darmstadt has named these technical difficulties as the main reason for the delays.

In addition, an alliance in Gießen tried to reject the payment card and founded an exchange office that enables the exchange of shopping vouchers against cash to alleviate the precarious situation of many refugees. The question of benefits and the costs of the payment card is increasingly faced.

The general situation of the refugees in Germany is shaped by fundamental migration challenges. According to the bpb.de lived about 281 million people outside of their country of birth. This migration is often influenced by war, violence and economic crises. However, the majority of people stay in their country of birth or migrated within their country. Access to resources to meet the migration policy challenges remains an enormous hurdle for many refugees.