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Fahimi for investing billions in social infrastructure
“We are in a nursing shortage, we are heading for an educational catastrophe if more is not finally invested,” warns Yasmin Fahimi, Chairwoman of the German Trade Union Confederation. photo
© Hannes P. Albert/dpa
Nursing shortage, educational disaster, clinic crisis: According to the country’s top trade unionist, Germany’s prospects are anything but rosy. She sees the government’s turn.
“We are in a nursing emergency, we are heading for an education catastrophe if more is not finally invested,” said Fahimi. “In the healthcare sector, the hospitals will collapse if the course is not set correctly now.” There is also an extreme shortage of skilled workers everywhere. “As a result, it also tears our social cohesion apart. That’s why these investments are existential – also for our democracy.”
increase the top tax rate
So far, Germany has gone through all the crises with the result “that more and more people are living on the poverty line and a few people are getting richer.” For more distributive justice, an increase in the top tax rate to 49 percent and an increase in the basic allowance to 14,500 euros is necessary. “This relieves the lower income and demands a higher contribution to the common good from the top earners.”
Today, a top tax rate of 42 percent applies, which is currently effective from a taxable income of 62,810 euros. The basic tax allowance – i.e. the income up to which no tax has to be paid – is 10,908 euros.
Expand social infrastructure
So far, the government’s balance sheet is impressive – a crisis in the energy supply was averted last year and billions were invested with the relief packages. “We now need the same determination and momentum in shaping the future and transformation,” said Fahimi. “Big solutions are required, no small partisan politics and no fruitless arguments,” said the DGB boss to the traffic light coalition.
“We will judge the government by whether it advances the central issues: the technical, climate-neutral restructuring of our economy, public investments in infrastructure for transport, energy and digitization,” said Fahimi. “But it’s also about expanding the social infrastructure, strengthening families and social cohesion.” It is therefore wrong “to insist on the debt brake in the middle of the transformation”.
Fair basic amount for families
More social balance is also needed when supporting families. “That’s why I expect basic child security that actually provides a just and fair basic amount for all families,” said Fahimi. “A base amount in the basic child security must be higher than the current standard needs rate for children in the citizen benefit and paid out automatically without an application.” Social hardship cases would then have to be given special consideration again.