The Slovak Parliament has approved an amendment to the Aliens Residence Act and the Asylum Act, which includes reductions in the assistance provided to Ukrainian refugees. Under the new amendment, refugees who receive asylum status after February 28, 2025, will only be entitled to stay in asylum facilities for 60 days, down from the current 120 days. Additionally, the cash allowance will be reduced to 60 days instead of 120. The amended law is set to take effect on March 1, 2025.
The amendment was approved swiftly and without prior consultation with civil society, human rights organizations, or migration experts. Even civil organizations that support refugees were not consulted about the proposed changes.
Under the new amendment, the status of refugees from vulnerable groups, such as elderly retirees (over 65 years old) and children under the age of five, will remain unaffected. Additionally, sole caregivers of children under five will be exempt from the changes.
The opposition has criticized the government’s last-minute amendment to the draft law, which was only submitted to the Parliament’s Human Rights Committee two days ago. Zuzana Stevolova, a deputy from the Slovak Progressive Party, revealed that ruling coalition members introduced changes related to Ukrainian refugees during a meeting of the Defense and Security Committee just one day before the amendment was approved.
Moreover, the opposition argues that the coalition government’s immigration policy is undermining support for Ukrainians, despite the country’s need for tens of thousands of foreign workers. They contend that the government prefers to bring in workers from Asia, who are largely Muslim, in contrast to Ukrainian Christians, who are culturally closer to Slovak citizens. The opposition has also sharply criticized Prime Minister Robert Fico for his planned visit to Russia early next year, viewing it as an attempt to encourage Ukrainians to seek refuge in countries other than Slovakia.
According to the Slovak government, the legal amendments concerning Ukrainian refugees will save more than two million euros, a necessary step in light of the pressure on public spending. Peter Krosby, Deputy Minister of the Interior, stated that the changes were essential and would not harm the refugees. He claimed that most Ukrainian refugees find jobs and housing within two months of arriving in the country. Krosby also emphasized during the Defense and Security Committee, “We need to save money wherever possible,” and highlighted that Slovakia is one of the most generous countries in offering support to refugees from Ukraine.
