According to labor market researcher Enzo Weber, the state should increasingly use severance payments not just to compensate people for losing their jobs, but actively to help them find new employment. Speaking to RTL and ntv, Weber stated, “Don’t compensate for job loss; support job gain. That would truly be something new.”
Weber argues that Germany is facing a renewal crisis due to a lack of investments and innovation, which has resulted in few new jobs being created. He stressed that it is crucial for employees to switch into burgeoning industries and to upskill themselves. Furthermore, he suggested that promoting job changes could benefit the state financially. He added, “If we reach a point where genuinely more future-oriented jobs are created, then tax and contribution revenue will result from that.”
Regarding pension reform, Weber proposed replacing the early retirement without deductions (after 45 contribution years) with a special supplement. He explained, “If you reach 45 years, you will be entitled to a special supplement of the same amount.” Unlike the current system, his proposal would not require employees to actually retire early. This system would instead serve as a reward for staying in the workforce longer and an acknowledgment of their continued commitment.
