A senior figure within the Social Democratic Party (SPD) parliamentary group has cautioned against the complete withdrawal of citizen’s benefits for those refusing to work. Dirk Wiese, the parliamentary group’s first managing director, emphasized the importance of a ruling by the Federal Constitutional Court regarding the guarantee of a basic standard of living, stating this must be considered.
Wiese acknowledged the need for stricter sanctions against individuals who exploit the system through black market employment, citing fairness to those diligently working and contributing to society. He stressed that the focus should be on facilitating a transition for more recipients out of the benefit system.
As an example, Wiese pointed to single parents who desire to work longer hours but face barriers to adequate childcare. He also highlighted the situation of individuals supplementing their wages with citizen’s benefits, indicating that removing them from the system could yield substantial savings. Efforts to address these obstacles, he suggested, would contribute to a more efficient and equitable system.
