Austria’s coalition government has unveiled plans to cut benefit payments for immigrants, including refugees, in a move aimed at deterring new arrivals.
The main benefit payment will be capped at €563 ($655; £492) a month, rising to match the amount Austrians receive – €863 – if they pass a German test.
Immigrants will also be barred from claiming such benefits for five years.
Conservative Chancellor Sebastian Kurz, in government with the far right, has vowed a hard line on immigration.
Mr Kurz campaigned in last year’s parliamentary election with pledges to cap benefits for refugees and to shut down migrant routes to Europe.
“The fundamental rule we will introduce is that German will become the key to accessing the full minimum benefit,” Mr Kurz told a news conference on Monday.
“That means that whoever has insufficient language skills will not be able to claim the full minimum benefit,” he added.
Source: BBC
