Controversy reigning over whether or not to retain Hartz IV* unemployment benefits, the economy’s move towards digitalization and robotization, and a potential overhaul to the working time legislation has relaunched the debate in Germany over instigating a universal basic income to all citizens. However on 01 May the country’s heavyweight trade unions clearly stated why they oppose the basic income. Business managers also oppose it as does a majority of the country’s citizens (survey results).
A basic income seen as an abdication of responsibility. Before even hearing that Finland had decided not to renew its pilot monthly basic income of €560 paid to 2,000 jobless regardless of situation, the president of the DGB (the German Trade Union Confederation) Reiner Hoffmann cleared stated his opposition to the instigation of a universal basic income in Germany. “Parking people with a payment to keep them disengaged because there is nothing for them on the jobs market is not a...
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