Social Organizations and Trade Unions Warn of Neglect of Social Issues in Upcoming German Government
Social organizations and trade unions have expressed concerns that social issues may be neglected in the upcoming government of the Federal Republic of Germany. The Paritätischer Wohlfahrtsverband (a social welfare organization) has warned that the citizen’s basic income, which has been increased, should not be rolled back, but rather further developed, according to its chief executive, Joachim Rock. Rock also emphasized the need for action in the pension policy, stating that the continued devaluation of pensions is leading to growing poverty among the elderly and must be stopped and reversed.
The service trade union Verdi has called for a minimum wage increase, citing the EU’s minimum wage directive, which requires member states to implement a minimum wage of at least 60 percent of the median income of full-time employees by the end of 2024. According to Verdi’s chief, Frank Werneke, this would mean a minimum wage of over 14 euros per hour today and at least 15 euros per hour by 2026. While the Christian Democratic Union has decided to leave the decision on the minimum wage to the commission, the Social Democratic Party has called for a minimum wage of 15 euros per hour in the election campaign.
The reform of the debt brake is expected to be a major challenge in the coming years, Werneke stated, as it is a condition for, among other things, the resolution of the investment backlog in the municipalities, which amounts to over 180 billion euros.
The German Towns Association has called for better financing of the municipalities, with its chief, Helmut Dedy, stating that schools are crumbling and buses are running less frequently and that this cannot continue. The municipalities, which carry a quarter of the state’s responsibilities, have only a seventh of the tax revenue and are in a record deficit and therefore need a higher share of the tax revenue.