ORS Annual Report 2021
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ANNUAL RESULTS<br />
<strong>2021</strong><br />
Review and outlook<br />
Asylum applications in Europe rose<br />
by over 30% in comparison with the<br />
previous year in <strong>2021</strong>. In spring, once<br />
most of the travel restrictions introduced<br />
to curb the spread of the coronavirus<br />
pandemic had been lifted, the<br />
monthly number of asylum applications<br />
made in Europe began to rise<br />
steadily again and in August resumed<br />
the level we were seeing in 2019.<br />
In contrast, operational work in the<br />
facilities did not become notably easier<br />
than in the previous year. Low occupancy<br />
and increased expenditure<br />
on COVID-19 protection measures in<br />
our facilities have had an impact on<br />
our overall result.<br />
Despite more difficult conditions,<br />
we succeeded again in realising the<br />
planned growth and further consolidating<br />
the profitability of the <strong>ORS</strong><br />
Group. This is all the more pleasing<br />
when we consider that some of our<br />
competitors list the same fees – and<br />
even demand deficit guarantees – yet<br />
have reported a loss. We are committed<br />
to our mission of making efficient<br />
use of the public money entrusted to<br />
us and boosting the attractiveness of<br />
our organisation.<br />
As a result of the political situation<br />
in southern Europe and particularly<br />
in Ukraine, we can assume that the<br />
number of asylum applications in Europe<br />
and the <strong>ORS</strong> markets is set to<br />
rise significantly. New opportunities<br />
are likely to arise in countries where<br />
the <strong>ORS</strong> Group is not yet active, in<br />
particular in southern Europe (Spain<br />
and Greece), but also in the existing<br />
markets.<br />
Switzerland<br />
In <strong>2021</strong>, around 15’000 asylum applications<br />
were made in Switzerland –<br />
an increase of at least 35% against the<br />
previous year. This places the rise in<br />
asylum applications in Switzerland<br />
above the European average of 30%.<br />
The increase in asylum applications<br />
led to higher overnight accommodation<br />
figures and, accordingly, to<br />
a higher turnover than the previous<br />
year.<br />
In the reporting year, support work<br />
in the federal asylum centres was the<br />
area that produced the highest turnover<br />
in Switzerland. This can be attributed<br />
to the fact that capacities in<br />
this mandate have been continuously<br />
expanded over the past two years, in<br />
part due to the coronavirus pandemic.<br />
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