The government commission’s proposals to reform the welfare state have won support from unions. DGB president Yasmin Fahimi told the “Süddeutsche Zeitung” in its Wednesday edition that it is positive that the commission is concentrating on structural reforms. She noted that benefit cuts were ruled out and would be inappropriate amid tightening household budgets and growing inequality.
The federal government now has an opportunity to restart the welfare‑state debate and steer it away from divisive tendencies. Fahimi said that instead of austerity, reforms should make people’s lives easier and better-highlighting ideas such as child‑benefit without paperwork for parents and the digitisation of social administration as good steps.
While the promises are ambitious, she warned that many proposals will hinge on the details of implementation. The DGB will continue to scrutinise the process critically and expects unions to be fully involved in the remaining stages.