Frei stated that the Minister will present a draft in the coming days, which will then serve as the basis for further work
The planned reform stems from an agreement detailed within the coalition treaty, Frei confirmed Accompanying this is a target of achieving €5 billion in savings through the adjustments He believes this goal is attainable, outlining that the intention is to replace the “Bürgergeld” with a revised basic security system
Key changes under consideration include adjustments to periods of non-eligibility, regulations concerning reasonable demands placed on benefit recipients and a renewed emphasis on prioritizing job placement services Frei anticipates these combined changes will facilitate the outlined savings
The reform process, however, is being conducted within a framework defined by a ruling from the Federal Constitutional Court in 2019 The court underscored that the right to basic security is rooted in human dignity, a right which applies universally and cannot be forfeited through conduct deemed “unworthy” While sanctions are permissible, the court indicated that reducing benefits by more than 30% of the standard requirement would be unconstitutional This ruling serves as a crucial guiding principle for the government as it proceeds with the planned revisions
