Germany’s Economy at Risk as Syrians Consider Returning Home

German authorities are growing concerned regarding Syrian migrants, many of who plan to return to Syria after the ousting of Bashar al-Assad.

The German economy is considerably reliant on Syrians, with over one million of them being well-integrated into German society. If the number of Syrians returning to their home country increases, the healthcare system in Germany will be one of the most affected, Schengen.News reports.

Recently, German Interior Minister Nancy Faeser has pointed out that regardless of the recent developments, Syrians and other migrants in Germany should feel secure because they will not be sent back to their home countries unless they want to.

The fear of sending Syrians back could be related to the recent statements of EU leaders that Syrians should be returned to their home countries, which is the case with Greece.

Pavlos Marinakis, the Greek Government Spokesperson, previously noted that the new developments should “mark the end of the flux of refugees from this country.”

Healthcare Sector to Be Hit the Hardest by Potential Syrian Mass Returns
Minister Faeser has already warned that Syrians leaving the country can have a negative impact on the German labour market, emphasising the health sector.

According to the German Health Minister, there are more than 6,000 Syrian doctors in the German healthcare system whose contribution is so valued.

It is estimated that currently, a total of 236,000 Syrian nationals work and pay taxes in Germany, with nearly two-thirds of them being essential workers. The German Federal Doctor’s Association (Bundesärztekammer) has revealed that at the end of 2023, there were 5,758 Syrian doctors working in Germany, most of them (5,000) in German hospitals.

Many Syrians Seriously Considering Return to Their Home Country 
According to a survey of Syrian doctors in Germany, 941 out of 1,238 respondents, which accounts for three-quarters (76 per cent) of the total respondents, want to return to Syria after the fall of Assad. 

However, Faisal Shahada, the head of the Syrian Doctors and Pharmacists Association in Germany, told InfoMigrants, pointed out that the portrayal of Syrian skilled workers in Germany is not fair. 

We are not just workers and numbers in the labour market. We are citizens who have lives that we built here with a lot of effort. This aspect was completely ignored by politicians and the German press. Faisal Shahada, Head of the Syrian Doctors and Pharmacists Association 

According to UNHCR, around 34,000 Syrian refugees have returned home in the first eight months of 2024, which represents an increase compared to data from the same period last year.

Source: https://schengen.news/germanys-economy-at-risk-as-syrians-consider-returning-home/