Germany plans easing asylum-seekers' access to labor market

Germany’s Cabinet on Wednesday approved legislation that would allow asylum-seekers to start working sooner, along with plans to stiffen sentences for smugglers.

Interior Minister Nancy Faeser said asylum seekers would be allowed to work after three or six months after arrival, down from the nine-month mark in place. The legislation still requires parliamentary approval. 

Vice Chancellor Robert Habeck said the idea behind the legislation was to make sure that asylum-seekers were…