Citizen money: The Union should give itself a jerk

The Bundestag voted in favor of citizen income, but the Union continues to resist it. You should pull yourself together – because the reform is a long overdue reaction to the shortage of skilled workers.

It’s time for the end of Hartz IV, it’s time for citizen income, for more respect. And there are good reasons for that. It starts with the starting position. Hartz IV was introduced when there were too few vacancies for too many people, now it’s the other way around: too many vacancies for too few people. The citizen money reacts to this.

In addition, Hartz IV is still experienced by those affected as humiliating because they feel that they are under the general suspicion of being unwilling to work. If a document cannot be obtained or a deadline cannot be met, sanctions are threatened, even for those who are in principle of good will. This is a lot of work for the employees in the job centers, but it is of little use. Therefore it is right to try it now with less pressure.

Overdue reaction to the shortage of skilled workers

Citizens’ income is also a long overdue reaction to the shortage of skilled workers. The long-term unemployed usually lack qualifications. Now the clerks in the job centers should spend more energy on organizing further education or training instead of placing those affected in any temporary jobs. Because that often leads to the so-called revolving door effect: Those affected are not happy in the temporary job, the employer is not satisfied, the employment relationship ends soon and the clerks in the job centers have to start all over again. Stop it.

With the citizen money, performance should be worth more, so it should be possible to earn more without the threat of deductions. So that the long-term unemployed can experience this first-hand, it should be possible in the long term to place them in companies with the basic income. The companies initially receive wage cost subsidies, and those affected receive coaching. This is how you work with and not against people.

Different times call for different policies

The Union rejects citizens’ income and claims that work would no longer be worthwhile as a result. The speakers from the governing factions in the Bundestag have refuted this. Because even low-income earners receive social assistance. If you include them, those who go to work definitely have more than those who receive citizen income.

Nevertheless, the Union stuck to its no. The Union-led federal states will probably do the same in the Bundesrat. Then comes a mediation process. The main issue will be how the Union can agree to a compromise without losing face. She should pull herself together. Different times call for different policies. That’s why it’s time for citizen money – and for more respect.