Concerns are mounting regarding the effectiveness of Germany’s citizen’s income program, Bürgergeld, following the release of government data highlighting a decline in successful job placements and a reduction in the number of employment facilitators.
Carsten Linnemann, General Secretary of the Christian Democratic Union (CDU), has emphasized the need for a swift reform of the program. Speaking to the Redaktionsnetzwerk Deutschland, Linnemann stated that the released information clearly indicates the urgent requirement for systemic change.
The data, a response to a request from the Alternative for Germany (AfD) party, detailed a dip in the rate of successful job placements facilitated by employment agencies, coupled with a decrease in the personnel dedicated to employment support.
Linnemann asserted that Job Centers – agencies responsible for administering social welfare programs – must refocus their efforts on job placement rather than primarily managing unemployment. He reiterated the commitment made by the governing coalition to implement a fundamental shift in the system with the introduction of the New Basic Security, emphasizing that these reforms should be enacted during the autumn months. The call for reform aims to ensure that the program effectively supports individuals in their path towards employment.