German Labor Minister Hubertus Heil expects a further zero round for the citizen’s basic income in 2026, provided that inflation does not significantly increase. The development of the standard rates depends largely on inflation, Heil told the “Redaktionsnetzwerk Deutschland”. “If the inflation rate remains at the two percent target the European Central Bank has set, a further zero round is certainly likely.”
Heil rejected the notion of stigmatizing citizen’s basic income recipients as lacking in work ethic. “We must not forget that one in five people who rely on citizen’s basic income are, in fact, working, but are dependent on the additional basic security due to low wages in combination with part-time work – think of the many single parents” he said. “Germany is not a lazy country, most people want to work and do so.”
Heil’s goal remains to place as many of the 1.7 million working-age citizen’s basic income recipients in employment as possible, he announced. He expressed readiness to take a tougher stance with those who refuse to work. “I have always been and still am in favor of sharpening the sanctions. We had already decided on this in the cabinet, and it is due to the delay caused by the FDP that this is no longer possible” Heil told RND. The government must ensure that no one becomes accustomed to receiving citizen’s basic income. “Anyone who refuses a reasonable job must feel the consequences. The citizen’s basic income is not a unconditional basic income.