Integration Barometer: What Austrians Experience as a Central Challenge
Lack of German language skills (59 percent), attitudes towards women, political Islam, and perceived exploitation of the social system (each 56 percent) are seen by Austrians as the central challenges in living together with refugees and immigrants. This is shown by the current edition of the Integration Barometer of the Austrian Integration Fund (ÖIF).
Over time, the proportion of those who see a lack of language skills as a major problem has also increased significantly (up eleven percentage points). 88 percent advocate that refugees must learn German within a certain period. If not complied with, the majority supports sanctions such as cuts in social assistance or minimum security.
Hajek Conducts Integration Barometer
The Integration Barometer is conducted by pollster Peter Hajek on behalf of the ÖIF. Since 2015, Austrian citizens aged 16 and over have been regularly surveyed about the coexistence of people with and without a migration background, with 1,000 people participating in the current survey.
Seven out of ten Austrians believe that the country is currently handling the influx of refugees and asylum seekers poorly. Similarly, 70 percent view the integration of migrants in Austria critically - this figure has hardly changed over time. The societal coexistence with immigrants is seen in a differentiated manner. 64 percent of respondents stated that they perceive it as rather or very poor - whereas conversely, 54 percent rate the coexistence with Ukrainian displaced persons as good or very good. Refugees and Muslims, in general, are viewed most negatively. When asked about different areas of life, coexistence in the workplace is predominantly judged positively, while public spaces, residential areas, and schools are viewed much more critically.
Integration Minister Commented
"Anyone who wants to live in Austria must learn German, work, and adhere to our rules and values. This is also the view of 9 out of 10 Austrians," said Integration Minister Claudia Plakolm (ÖVP) in a statement. "We will consistently demand this with the new integration program. We will push people towards integration, if necessary, with sanctions."
(APA/Red)
This article has been automatically translated, read the original article here.