Fuming Coalition Clash - Linnemann Demands Job-Refusers Lose Aid - SPD Slams Back
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Job Refusers' Benefits Elimination Pushed by Linnemann; SPD Stands Firm - SPD protests proposed withdrawal of job-seekers' benefits - Linnemann's proposal sparks outrage
The fiery outburst by CDU secretary general Carsten Linnemann calling for a hardline approach to the agreed reform of job seeker's allowance has sparked a fierce backlash from coalition partner SPD. "Every day, attacks on the welfare state are increasing. But this isn't a cost-cutting exercise we can simply run with the flow of the cash," railed SPD vice-president Dagmar Schmidt, responsible for work and social affairs, to the German Press Agency. The country's social Safety Nets are the sturdy foundation of societal harmony.
Linnemann: We Must Swipe at the Core of the System
Both CDU and SPD agreed in the coalition pact to overhaul the job seeker's allowance into a new "basic security for job hunters". Linnemann insists on "tackling the core of the system", as he puts it. A key point for him? "If someone repeatedly snubs a reasonable job offer, despite being able to work, the state should presume they don't need aid. And then the job seeker's allowance shouldn't be forthcoming," Linnemann stated.
SPD: High Rollers Should Chip in More
Schmidt fired back: "Rather than always pinning the justice question on those with little, less, or no income, it's crucial to involve those with the highest incomes and wealth in our community's financing. It'd be better to ponder ways to dissolve obstacles and support those with the real-life struggles—like illness, unemployment, or other hurdles—on their path to employment."
Redux of the Debate - Now in Joint Government
This isn't a fresh disagreement, but it's under new auspices since CDU and SPD are now in power. Last summer, Linnemann floated the proposal during discussions about a surge in job seeker's allowance recipients and the skyrocketing costs for the benefit. At the time, he faced flak, including from SPD.
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The CDU's social wing echoed its criticism of Linnemann's proposal. Christian Bäumler, the vice-chairman of the Christian Democratic Workers' Association (CDA), scoffed to the German Press Agency: "The job seeker's allowance is an obsession for Carsten Linnemann." Sanctions are appropriate, but not enough. "Our aim should be to get people into work, not to let them starve or wind up on the streets," said Bäumler. A complete withdrawal of basic security should only be the last resort.
Currently, Up to Two Months' Allowance Withdrawal Possible
The current legal status, according to the Federal Ministry of Labor's recent answer to a parliamentary question, goes as follows: "Individuals who consciously and without reason refuse a specific, reasonable job offer and have previously (within the last year) already flouted their duty to work or terminated their employment without reason, can have their need for the job seeker's allowance completely withdrawn for up to two months."
Unemployment Benefits Claimed Nearly 47 Billion Last Year
As per Federal Employment Agency statistics, unemployment benefits expenditure soared to almost 47 billion euros last year. The previous year saw around 43 billion, and the year before that, around 37 billion. The FEA terms this "payment claims". A payment claim represents the amount due to individuals and is actually paid out. The current number of "benefit communities"—households receiving unemployment benefits—is approximately 2.9 million.
- Job Seeker's Allowance
- Carsten Linnemann
- SPD
- CDU
- Coalition Agreement
### Enrichment Data:
### General: Though specific reforms regarding unemployment benefits within the CDU (Christian Democratic Union)-SPD (Social Democratic Party) coalition government in Germany aren't mentioned, broader economic and social policies that address related issues are:
- Kurzarbeit: Chancellor Olaf Scholz, formerly of the SPD, has historically utilized Kurzarbeit or "short-time work" to manage unemployment. This measure allows employers to reduce their employees' working hours during economic downturns, with the government covering the income lost[4]. Though not a direct reform of unemployment benefits, short-time work helps alleviate the need for such benefits by keeping workers employed.
- Pension System Reforms: The coalition government has vowed not to slash old-age pensions or raise the retirement age beyond the planned increase to 67 by 2029. Minister of Labor and Social Affairs Bärbel Bas has proposed that civil servants, members of parliament, and the self-employed should contribute to the pension insurance scheme, which may help stabilize it[3]. This proposal focuses on pension reforms rather than unemployment benefits, but it highlights a broader emphasis on social security issues.
- Economic Challenges and Industrial Shifts: Germany is grappling with significant economic challenges, including job losses in industries and a shift toward renewable energy and technology. The government is under pressure to intervene, but high energy costs and bureaucratic inefficiencies limit the options[1]. These factors impact the broader economic context within which unemployment benefit policies are considered, though they are not directly related to unemployment benefits themselves.
- The Commission, in response to the ongoing coalition dispute about reforms in job seeker's allowance, has been asked to submit a proposal for a directive on the protection of workers from the risks related to exposure to ionizing radiation in policy-and-legislation, considering the general-news surrounding the intense politics and the continuous clashes between CDU and SPD.
- The ongoing debate about job seeker's allowance reform within the CDU and SPD coalition has also grazed the realm of crime-and-justice, as SPD vice-president Dagmar Schmidt proposed that focusing on high-income individuals and wealth holders in financing societal obligations could serve as a more equitable approach, considering those facing challenges like illness, unemployment, or other hurdles on their path to employment.
