German Labor Minister Bärbel Bas, a member of the Social Democratic Party, does not believe that stricter sanctions in the citizen’s allowance will lead to significant savings in the budget.
In an interview with the Deutschlandfunk, Bas emphasized that while there are always individuals who exploit the system, it is not a widespread phenomenon. The majority of people, including those receiving the citizen’s allowance, are already struggling. Bas expressed her wish for a more nuanced discussion on the topic, stating that it is too simplistic to claim that all problems can be solved with sanctions.
According to the coalition agreement, the government has agreed to provide a qualification program for individuals without a vocational or high school diploma, aiming to make them job-ready. This is a key focus area for Bas. While those who do not cooperate will face sanctions, the minister noted that this represents a small portion of the total.