Federal Minister of Labour Bärbel Bas (SPD) defended her previous statement in the Bundestag, specifically concerning the accusation that people are immigrating into German social systems. Speaking at a DGB event in Berlin on Tuesday, Bas stated that she had answered “too briefly”.
She clarified that migration is driven by diverse reasons, explaining that people come to Germany because they are fleeing persecution, war, and terror, or because they are urgently needed as skilled professionals. Moreover, she warned that right-wing extremists would exploit these specific groups for the benefit of their “dirty political dealings”.
In addition to the discussion on migration, the Minister stressed her commitment to addressing the misuse of social benefits. According to Bas, this is “not a controversial issue” arguing that such misuse ultimately harms those who genuinely need support. Furthermore, she emphasized that it is simply fair to those taxpayers who finance the social safety net through taxes and mandatory contributions.
