In 1983, the federal government passed a law on the promotion of the return of immigrants to their countries of origin (“Rückkehrhilfegesetz”) which included the payment of a repatriation grant to unemployed foreigners if they would return to their country of origin. In addition to the 10,5000 D-Mark repatriation grant, the money the returnees had paid into the pension fund was refunded to them. However, this meant they lost their right to pension in Germany. Helmut Kohl’s government passed the law under the impression of increased unemployment and the political desire to reduce the number of “unwanted” migrants who came to Germany in the time of the labour recruitment agreements. The government hoped for the law to create incentives for migrants to leave Germany. The law was effective until 1984.