The proposal by Saxony-Anhalt’s designated Minister President, Sven Schulze of the CDU, to mandate social service work for welfare recipients is facing sharp criticism, with leading figures accusing him of perpetuating a divisive and ultimately counterproductive policy. Heidi Reichinnek, parliamentary group leader of the Left party in the Bundestag, condemned the initiative as a “further low point” in the ongoing debate surrounding the new basic security system.
Reichinnek’s assessment characterizes Schulze’s plan as a continuation of the policies previously pursued under incumbent Reiner Haseloff, a period marked by escalating societal divisions. The Left politician voiced concerns that compulsory service schemes threaten to displace regular employment opportunities in sectors like street cleaning, green space maintenance and social care, potentially leading to a net increase in unemployment rather than fostering genuine integration.
Beyond the immediate displacement concerns, Reichinnek rejected the underlying logic of employing sanctions as an effective labor market policy tool. “Increased compulsion does not lead to a sustainable return to the regular labor market” she stated, arguing instead that such measures risk forcing individuals into “poorly paid jobs with inadequate conditions, jobs they will inevitably abandon”. She accuses Schulze of deliberately overlooking the fundamental issue: a demonstrable lack of available positions.
Reichinnek contends that the focus should shift away from identifying scapegoats and toward implementing an active economic policy, involving strategic future investments and substantially improved training opportunities for job seekers. “No one benefits when the situation of the most vulnerable individuals deteriorates further” she asserted. Her call concludes with a demand for governmental action to “finally make life affordable for the majority” implying a need for systemic reevaluation and redistribution rather than individual punitive measures.
