Hessian Minister President Boris Rhein (CDU) has opposed the latest demands of the Mittelstands‑und‑Wirtschaftsunion (MIT) and the CDU’s Economic Council.
In the Tuesday edition of “Bild”, Rhein said: “I firmly reject cuts to performance for those who deliver results”. He urged greater respect for achievement and warned against a new social coldness.
Rhein added, “The proposals from MIT and the Economic Council to restrict part‑time work and health benefits such as dental care do not align with my vision of social justice”. For him, the CDU has traditionally stood for the recognition of performance. He called for more incentives for those who want to contribute and for stricter sanctions against those who refuse.
Previously, the Economic Council had demanded that dental services no longer be financed through the collective‑funding mechanism of statutory health insurance. Statutory‑insured individuals would therefore have to pay for dental treatments themselves or purchase a private supplemental insurance. Last week, MIT suggested tightening restrictions on part‑time work.