Imigrants to hand over possessions to help pay for their upkeep

Refugees arriving in Switzerland are facing harsh new integration laws with authorities confiscating valuable possessions and taxing 10 per cent of the migrants' future earnings. Following the example set by Denmark, in which possessions worth more than 1,000 Swiss francs are taken, the country claims the measures are necessary to pay for the migrants' upkeep. The harsh rules come as Denmark backtracks on similar measures after being rebuked by the UN refugee agency and drawing comparisons to Nazi Germany.

Local broadcaster SRF showed a receipt a refugee from Syria which he claimed to have received from authorities when he had to turn over more than half of the cash his family had left after paying traffickers to help them get to the Alpine country. It also showed an information sheet for refugees that stated: 'If you have property worth more than 1,000 Swiss francs when you arrive at a reception centre you are required to give up these financial assets in return for a receipt.'

The country's migration authority SEM said the law calls for asylum seekers and refugees to contribute where possible to the cost of processing their applications and providing social assistance. '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,' an SEM spokeswoman told SRF. Remarkably, those who win the right to stay and work in Switzerland have to also surrender 10 percent of their pay for up to 10 years until they repay 15,000 francs in costs. Stefan Frey, from refugee aid group Schweizerische Fluechtlingshilfe, called the measures 'undignified'. It comes as Denmark amends a proposal to confiscate refugees' possessions to pay for their stay by raising the amount they will be allowed to keep. The plans sparked international outrage, especially in the US, where the Washington Post noted that confiscating jewellery from refugees had 'a particularly bitter connotation in Europe' where the Nazis seized gold and valuables from Jews and others during the Second World War.

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Seems reasonable to me. I think this should be a EU law.

It serves as a "surety bond".

a reply to: DeathSlayer

Too bloody right, don't want to stir up hatred, but when are the spineless politicians of the UK take notice of this. BTW I used to live and work in Switzerland for 16 years. So I do know the ways of the country and this is not unheard of. In fact the Swiss are quite fond of putting people on a plane and sending them back.

If you were really scared enough to make it all the way to Europe from Syria, what the **** would you take with you anyway!
Why not take the short route to one of the neighbouring countries?
Maybe the focus should be on what those countries are doing to help:
www.washingtonpost.com...

Let's just hope none of us ever find ourselves in the same predicament.

Shameful.

originally posted by: bigfoot007
a reply to: DeathSlayer

Too bloody right, don't want to stir up hatred, but when are the spineless politicians of the UK take notice of this. BTW I used to live and work in Switzerland for 16 years. So I do know the ways of the country and this is not unheard of. In fact the Swiss are quite fond of putting people on a plane and sending them back.

And also for acting as a fence for the Nazis.

a reply to: Cobaltic1978

That was just the banks. The Swiss hated the Nazis as much as anyone else, the fact that they are a neutral country implies that they will be a push over. If you have a genuine claim to asylum then you have no problems.

originally posted by: Cobaltic1978
Let's just hope none of us ever find ourselves in the same predicament.

Shameful.

I find myself surprisingly in favour of this.

If any assets were taken and returned when they had settled and become fully integrated I think it could be seen as a positive way forwards.

Given the cost of relocation ect it would both be in the immigrants interest to build a new life and also remove the "our tax payers money" argument.

a reply to: Cobaltic1978
So you'd travel all those extra thousands of miles rather than the easy route to Wales, Ireland or Scotland? It's as if they heard Europe was a soft touch. Handouts, benefits, houses. Don't get me wrong, one half of my family were immigrants who fled the Nazis, but they took 2 or 3 jobs to survive and slept on angled string because they couldn't afford beds.
Like I posted earlier, go to the nearest country if you don't like yours. 90% of Syrians are Muslim. Their neighbours are Muslims. Why go further than you have to ?


Edit - obviously the nearest safe country for Polish Jewish / anti-Nazi immigrants was the UK

a reply to: DeathSlayer

"When in Rome" (Do as the Romans do) comes to mind
I know Denmark requires the same "Hand over" of valuable possessions from it's citizens if they seek state financial help.
Cars and luxury goods etc.

Of course those who fled with little money or possessions would be exempt... Until they start earning a wage then they would be taxed

Each country has it's own laws ... and for better or worse that is what has to be accepted for now

originally posted by: BestinShow

[SNIP]

Really?

originally posted by: uktorah
a reply to: Cobaltic1978
So you'd travel all those extra thousands of miles rather than the easy route to Wales, Ireland or Scotland? It's as if they heard Europe was a soft touch. Handouts, benefits, houses. Don't get me wrong, one half of my family were immigrants who fled the Nazis, but they took 2 or 3 jobs to survive and slept on angled string because they couldn't afford beds.
Like I posted earlier, go to the nearest country if you don't like yours. 90% of Syrians are Muslim. Their neighbours are Muslims. Why go further than you have to ?

Edit - obviously the nearest safe country for Jewish / anti-Nazi immigrants was the UK

Merkel invited them into Europe, in particular the Syrains into her very own country. Do you think Greece could have sustained the influx they have experienced? That would possibly be the first European country they came across.

i appreciate many head for Italy, but once they are in Europe, Germany or the U.K, even Scandanavia is a better looking prospect.

Still, nice to see they have you all living in fear, it's working, working well.

a reply to: DeathSlayer

Welp, its fair as hell. They will be taken care of better than natives no? So whats the problem? They can keep their crap and stay in their home countrys and FIX them. But what ever. I have noticed that some people are always nomadic peasants, changing from empire to empire, never really developing as a people, only borrowing from others.

Its a difficult thing to say. But.....you fix your home or you will never have one. These good and talented people have never been so needed by their country.....

But again....what ever. It is fair to at least help where you can if not bugger off. No one really wants these people in the west anyways. Not as a mass of messed up people in survival mode. Thats the freaking truth. Politicians and idealists better tread lightly. Times are lean for us all.....and something is going to snap.

a reply to: Cobaltic1978
When did the crisis start? 2011
Source www.mercycorps.org...
Merkel invited them September 2015.

The Arab countries are closer and richer than Greece and the rest of Europe.

originally posted by: BestinShow
[SNIP]

This post confirms that world has many ignorant fools
Medieval in it's attitude not dissimilar to the burning of heretics and their works by the God fearing sheep of a different religion

a reply to: uktorah

Why did the crisis start? A western backed rebellion against Assad, a power vacuum created via the invasion of Iraq and subsequent removal of Saddam Hussein, if you believe the official back story of the Daesh creation.

Edit- As for other Arab countries not taking their allocation, where would Shia Muslims be welcomed in the Sunni Muslim world?