A new rule, which was passed by parliament last month, calls for asylum-seekers to receive their benefits on a card for use at local shops and to pay for services. They will only be able to withdraw limited amounts of cash and won’t be able to transfer money outside Germany. The aim is to prevent migrants from sending money to family and friends abroad, or to smugglers. Migrant advocates groups have criticized the new regulation as discriminatory — especially as it’s being implemented in a country that’s still much more cash-centric than many other European countries and where some businesses, especially restaurants, won’t even accept card payments.

They say people fleeing war and persecution won’t be deterred from coming to Germany just because their benefits will no longer be paid out in cash only. Instead, they claim that the payment cards will single out migrants and may possibly add to them being ostracized further.

– The Associated Press