Should the long-term unemployed have to accept sanctions if they behave uncooperatively towards the job center? One initiative is promoting less strict rules with regard to the planned citizens’ income.
Sanctions-free sanctions against uncooperative Hartz IV recipients are ineffective according to the assessment of the association. Instead of getting people to work in the long term, cuts in basic security if job center conditions are violated would have an intimidating effect, according to the sanctions-free initiative on Monday in Berlin, citing its own study.
On behalf of the Sanctions-free e. V., the INES research institute surveyed 585 randomly selected people over a period of three years who had received basic security either continuously or with interruptions during this period. In one sub-group, sanctions were compensated financially. The result was that financial cuts had no particular effect on the motivation of those affected, said Sanctions Free eV.
In both subgroups, people are no more encouraged to cooperate. According to the respondents with sanctions, however, they exerted great pressure.
According to the plans of Minister of Labor Hubertus Heil (SPD), less strict conditions should apply to the basic income, which is to replace the current Hartz IV system on January 1st. People who receive citizen income should therefore not have to fear any cuts in benefits for six months, even if, for example, they miss appointments at the job center.
It is demanded: Abolish sanctions completely
Ulrich Schneider, general manager of the joint association, said: “Sanctions should be completely abolished.” Only then can Hartz IV be overcome. The President of the German Institute for Economic Research, Marcel Fratzscher, criticized that the regular basic security rates were too low. “Due to sanctions, these services are also not reliable for many people.”
The craft association, on the other hand, sees false incentives for low earners in the federal government’s basic income concept. “It causes demotivation for those who work regularly with a low salary. At the lower end, the boundaries between regular work and basic income are becoming increasingly blurred,” said the President of the Central Association of German Crafts (ZDH), Hans Peter Wollseifer, who ” Rheinische Post” (Monday).
According to plans by the Federal Ministry of Social Affairs, the standard rate for the new basic income for single adults should be EUR 502 per month. A departmental vote is currently underway, and the federal cabinet is to discuss the draft on Wednesday.
Craft criticizes the concept of salvation
The trade association sees false incentives for low earners in the federal government’s basic income concept. “It demotivates those who work regularly with a low salary. At the lower end, the boundaries between regular work and basic income are becoming increasingly blurred,” said the President of the Central Association of German Crafts (ZDH), Hans Peter Wollseifer, of Düsseldorf “Rheinische Post” (Monday).
Stefan Körzell, board member of the German Trade Union Confederation (DGB), called this statement “cynical”. It was tasteless to play off low-income earners and Hartz IV recipients against each other, he said on Monday. “Not a single employee has even one cent more in their wallets, because with the intended introduction of citizen income, the standard rates are to increase slightly.”
Many wondered why they should be working at 7 a.m. when recipients of citizen income received almost the same. “The improvements for recipients of allowances, the elimination of sanctions, the significant increase in the standard rate, the complete assumption of the sharp rise in heating costs – all of this will mean that for more people than before, not working is more worthwhile than working .”
Source: Stern
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