The new Minister-President of Saxony‑Anhalt, Sven Schulze of the CDU, has called for a stronger obligation on basic‑income recipients to engage in voluntary activities. On Bild am Sonntag he said, “I believe we first need to talk about those who could work but are not going to work”.
Schulze stresses that state aid should come with a reciprocal contribution. He pointed to specific municipal tasks, such as helping in a local council, sweeping leaves, or clearing snow in the winter. “Why can’t healthy people who are at home and currently out of work do these things?” he asked.
Drawing on the former “bürgerlichen Arbeit” scheme in Saxony‑Anhalt, Schulze clarified that charitable work is not prohibited in Germany. He warned against immediately blocking the debate with legal objections: “We expect a return for the benefit you receive. It’s wrong to jump straight to legislation and say that certain things are not allowed”.
To ensure participation in such activities or in language courses, Schulze favors financial pressure and consequences. He said that a reduction of basic income for refusal would be the correct approach. “I know this is controversial, because this exact form has not yet been used, but ultimately it is part of social justice” he explained. He added that sanctions must be considered so that those who decline to cooperate will no longer receive full state benefits.