Jan van Aken, the leader of the Linken party, is calling for a shift in the debate over increasing social contributions. “It is indeed right that social contributions need to decrease for the majority of the population in this country – but not at the expense of employees” he said on Wednesday.
“Employers’ associations are unfortunately making a lobby for the millionaires during the election campaign, hiding under the guise of ‘efficiency gains’ and ‘more competition’ to erode the social system. As a result, no employee will ultimately have a better healthcare system or more money in their pocket” warned van Aken.
“Those who unilaterally shift the burden of the current economic crisis onto the shoulders of employees are a threat to democracy” emphasized the party leader. “Lower social contributions and more net income for employees will not be achieved through barely concealed cuts in services.”
A paradigm shift is needed, van Aken said. “A solidarity-based public health insurance, in which everyone contributes, including top earners, civil servants, and self-employed individuals, and the increase of the contribution assessment ceiling. Then, we can create a fair and effective healthcare system for all” he predicted. “And at the same time, health insurance contributions would decrease from 17.2 to 13.3 percent.”
“A solidarity-based public health insurance would not only be fair but also economically sensible, as it would significantly relieve small and medium-sized incomes and strengthen purchasing power” he explained. “And those who are genuinely interested in efficiency gains should finally start with the vastly overinflated manager salaries and dividend payments to shareholders, not with social benefits for employees” demanded the Linken leader.