He referred to various one-time aids and support programs launched by the federal government during the pandemic, but these were “not enough”, he said at a joint meeting with AK President Renate Anderl on Thursday. Existing gaps must be closed and hardships defused.
“More leeway in social assistance”
In this breath he mentioned the basic social welfare law that was launched under turquoise-blue. In this regard, Mückstein supports the demands of the social state councils “for more leeway in social assistance”. Therefore, he will “continue to work” for the “repair” of the basic law, said the Minister of Social Affairs.
“Manifest Poverty” in Austria
When asked whether he thought the turquoise coalition partner behind him in this matter, Mückstein only said that – as stipulated in the government program – there is a “clear goal” of halving poverty. Measures are required in all departments as well as coordination with the federal states. The 1.5 million people at risk of poverty in Austria are “mandated to act”. In this country there is “manifest poverty”.
Unemployment benefit: Rejection to ÖVP
Mückstein argued that “more money” is needed to combat unemployment. Mückstein more or less rejected the change in reasonableness and a degressive unemployment benefit as considered by the coalition partner ÖVP. Of course, one can discuss different models, but one has the clear goal of halving poverty, and less unemployment benefits are “not expedient,” said Mückstein: “And that will not happen with the Greens either.” “We need employment,” stressed the Minister of Social Affairs. To do this, you have to improve working conditions in order to get people into employment. “I don’t think you can achieve anything here with pressure.”
Anderl: No further tightening of the reasonableness
The AK president sees it similarly: The local rules of reasonableness are “the strictest anyway”. In fact, unemployed people can be placed anywhere in Austria unless they have young children. A further tightening is certainly not expedient. Instead, more attractive working conditions are needed in many areas.
Anderl stated that a lot had been implemented during the pandemic, but fears that the fight against poverty will take a back seat. In some cases, the problems in the pandemic have been exacerbated. The health crisis has turned into an economic and employment crisis, says Anderl: “We now have to be careful that it does not end in a poverty crisis.” Now you have to take action and take countermeasures, because the labor market continues to tighten, single parents are particularly “badly affected”.
The “most effective means” of fighting poverty is a job with fair pay and fair working conditions. In addition, social and emergency aid are “simply too little” and this must be remedied. Likewise the unemployment benefit, here the increase to 70 percent is a long requirement. The one-time payments did help, but only flowed once, according to the AK President. The AK also supports the “springboard” campaign for the long-term unemployed. The 300 million would actually have to be additional money and the campaign would have to continue until the end of the legislative period, said Anderl.
Another urgent concern of the AK is the fight against child poverty. Families need enough money to live. In addition, equal opportunities in the education system are necessary, as well as easily accessible advice and support offers.
