Lawmakers from both the Social Democratic Party (SPD) and the Christian Democratic Union (CDU) are signaling a shift towards stricter measures regarding citizen’s income, following a significant increase in associated costs. Expenditures on citizen’s income rose by four billion euros last year, bringing the total to 47 billion euros.
Dirk Wiese, Parliamentary Secretary of the SPD parliamentary group, told the Redaktionsnetzwerk Deutschland (RND) that reforms to the citizen’s income system are necessary. He emphasized that individuals exploiting the system should face clear sanctions, specifically mentioning organized fraud and undeclared work, such as instances observed in the Ruhr region.
Acknowledging that the vast majority of citizen’s income recipients are seeking to escape unemployment, Wiese highlighted the issue of many individuals needing to supplement their income despite working, indicating a need for a higher minimum wage and stronger collective bargaining agreements.
Wiese addressed concerns suggesting the SPD has prioritized the needs of those not working over those who do, stating the party intends to adjust course. He stressed that the objective is not to create division, reaffirming the importance of recognizing and rewarding work through improved wages and a social safety net that provides support, not punishment.
CDU parliamentary representative Tilman Kuban, speaking to RND, echoed the sentiment that the new basic income should be reserved for those genuinely in need of assistance, not for individuals unwilling to work. He emphasized that millions of people contribute to the social system through employment and that the citizen’s income should strive primarily for fairness and justice, not solely for cost savings.
