“We urgently need him” – Arab is no longer allowed to work
A 23-year-old Afghan worker in Salzburg has suddenly lost his right to work after spending two years in Austria’s hospitality industry. He cannot currently be deported either, leaving him dependent on state support despite his employer urgently needing him.
Arab Ihsanullah had worked his way up at the traditional Sternbräu restaurant in Salzburg, progressing from a waiter to a cashier. His employer, Harald Kratzer, says the young man had become an important member of the workforce, particularly during the busy summer season.
However, at the end of July, authorities did not renew Arab’s work permit. According to the report, asylum seekers in Austria can generally work under specific conditions, including in sectors facing shortages where no suitable local applicants are available. The Sternbräu employs workers from 26 different nationalities.
Arab has received two negative asylum decisions, meaning he has not been granted asylum in Austria. But deportation is also currently not possible because the necessary agreements with Afghanistan are lacking. Instead, he is expected to receive a “Duldungskarte” (tolerated stay card) for the coming year.
The problem is that this status does not allow him to work. After spending two years legally employed, paying rent and taxes, Arab now has to rely on government support. “I want to work again,” he said, according to the report.
His lawyer said that people in similar situations previously had more possibilities of obtaining a humanitarian right to remain, but those options have become more limited. She hopes Arab can use the coming period to obtain German-language certificates, which could improve his chances of securing a longer-term legal status in Austria.
The case has sparked criticism and frustration because the restaurant says it urgently needs the worker, while the authorities are preventing him from earning a living. Arab therefore finds himself in a difficult situation: he is not allowed to remain in Austria permanently, cannot currently be deported, and is also prohibited from working.