“Union didn’t hear the shot” – This is how Kühnert defends the planned citizens’ allowance
Opinions are divided on the planned citizens’ income
More and more criticism of the planned citizens’ allowance: Bavaria’s Prime Minister Markus Söder and Crafts President Hans Peter Wollseifer warn that the new service would not create enough incentives for taking up work according to the plans of the traffic light coalition. There are other voices, however.
It’s the biggest social reform in years: the traffic light coalition wants to leave Hartz IV behind with the citizen’s allowance. Criticism from employers and from the opposition lets SPD General Kevin Kühnert roll off.
VRepresentatives of the SPD and the Greens have rejected criticism of the planned citizens’ allowance. “Apparently, the shot has not yet been heard from some employer representatives and in the Union,” said SPD General Secretary Kevin Kühnert to the newspapers of the Funke media group (Thursday). “Instead of continuing to hum the song about allegedly too high standard rates that would make work unattractive, employers should finally assume their responsibility and create more attractive employment conditions through much stronger collective bargaining agreements.”
The logic of thumbscrews and low wages, especially in times of a shortage of skilled workers, is a fatal wrong way into the dead end of labor market policy.
Millions of people in Germany are to receive more money and better care from January 1st with the citizen benefit. The federal cabinet gave the green light for the central social reform of the traffic light coalition on Wednesday. Citizens’ income is intended to replace Hartz IV in its current form for the more than five million affected.
Union and employers accused the coalition of leaving the needy in the aid system permanently. The labor market policy spokesman for the Union faction, Stephan Stracke (CSU), explained that the new regulation would make it more attractive not to work. “This is disrespect for the unemployed and the taxpayers who finance the solidarity system with their contributions.” This is moving in the direction of an unconditional basic income.
Social associations and unions criticized the planned monthly rates as too low.
“The approximately 50 euros more for single adults only sounds like a lot at first glance,” said Michael Groß, President of Arbeiterwohlfahrt. “Because in view of the standard rates that were already too low and the current inflation, this just compensates for the inflation rate. That’s not enough at the back and the front.” The Bundestag and Bundesrat still have to approve the law.
The Greens parliamentary group leader Britta Haßelmann told the “Rheinische Post” (Thursday) with regard to the criticism of the Union that if the CDU and CSU once again tried to play off social security for people and the lack of skilled workers against each other, then this misjudged the signs of the times. “We can only counter the shortage of skilled workers with better working conditions in sectors such as care, with further training and qualification, better compatibility and, in particular, with a reform of the immigration of skilled workers.”