LOC16:03
13:03 GMT
VIENNA, April 19 (KUNA) - Eight Austrian provinces on Friday rejected to reduce the wages of refugees, saying that they are valuable contributors to the society.
"The Ministry of the Interior's plan to reduce the wages of refugees to about 1.5 euros (USD 1.75) per hour was rejected," the local administrations of the eight provinces, said in a joint statement, calling on the ministry to stop this destructive strategy of merger opportunities.
"This decision is inhumane and is a kind of exploitation of refugees that will have negative consequences," the statement added.
The Austrian government has reduced services and financial assistance to asylum seekers as part of its policy to combat illegal immigration. (end)
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