The claim
“As long as Austrians who work 40 hours in a supermarket have less money at their disposal than asylum seekers, then something is going wrong.”
Our conclusion
The claim is false, as a full-time supermarket employee in Austria earns at least 1,874 euros gross according to the collective agreement. Depending on the accommodation situation, an asylum seeker receives between 40 and 425 euros per month.
In times when false reports are spreading faster than ever before, an urgent question arises: Does a supermarket employee in Austria actually earn less than an asylum seeker? We get to the bottom of this common myth and take a closer look at the hard facts.
This claim is currently making the rounds: “As long as Austrians who work 40 hours in the supermarket have less money at their disposal than asylum seekers, then something is going wrong..” (sic!)

What supermarket employees actually earn
Austria has a structured system of collective agreements that set wages and salaries for specific industries and activities. In retail, this affects both employees and workers.
Note: The collective agreement for retail employees is negotiated by the GPA union , the collective agreement for workers Vida union .
According to Litsa Kalaitzis, press spokeswoman for ÖGB President Wolfgang Katzian, from the Austrian Trade Union Confederation, there are around 430,000 employees and 130,000 workers in retail. For both groups, the collective agreement wages are significantly higher than what an asylum seeker is entitled to per month.
The financial dilemma of asylum seekers
While a supermarket employee earns at least 1,817 to 1,874 euros gross, asylum seekers in organized accommodation only receive 40 euros per month. Even if they pay for their own accommodation and meals, the financial support is only 425 euros per month. This fact calls into question the narrative circulating on social networks.
Misunderstandings and misconceptions
The difference in income between supermarket workers and asylum seekers is significant. However, there are numerous articles on the Internet that claim the opposite. Despite these clear differences, there are many posts online that spread misleading information and claim that asylum seekers receive more support than the salary of a full-time supermarket worker. Such misinformation can be attributed to several causes - from simple misunderstandings to deliberate hoaxes intended to influence sentiment or opinions.
The problem with spreading this misinformation is not only that it is inaccurate, but also that it can contribute to fueling prejudices and misunderstandings in society. People who accept such information unchecked may come to the conclusion that asylum seekers are being given preferential treatment, even though this is not the reality. This can contribute to resentment, tension and a distorted perception of the actual situation, which ultimately negatively influences public opinion and discourse.
Difficulties integrating into the labor market
Asylum seekers also have limited access to the labor market , making it difficult for them to improve their financial situation. The current system is criticized because it does not promote rapid integration into the labor market.
Fact check:
Claim 1: Supermarket employees in Austria earn less than asylum seekers.
Fact check: False. In the worst case scenario, a supermarket employee earns 1,817 euros gross, while an asylum seeker only receives 40 euros to 425 euros.
Claim 2: Asylum seekers in Austria receive more money from the state than needy Germans.
Fact check: False. Asylum seekers in Germany receive a maximum of 410 euros, while needy Germans are entitled to 502 euros per month.
Claim 3: Collective agreements play no role in determining salaries in Austria.
Fact check: False. In Austria, salaries are determined by collective agreements that are negotiated between unions and employers.
Claim 4: All asylum seekers receive 425 euros per month.
Fact check: False. Only those who take care of their own accommodation and meals receive this amount. Others who live in organized accommodation only receive 40 euros.
Claim 5: Recognized refugees in Austria are not entitled to social assistance.
Fact check: False. Recognized refugees, like Austrian citizens, are entitled to social assistance.
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Notes:
1) This content reflects the current state of affairs at the time of publication. The reproduction of individual images, screenshots, embeds or video sequences serves to discuss the topic. 2) Individual contributions were created through the use of machine assistance and were carefully checked by the Mimikama editorial team before publication. ( Reason )

