Germany: controversy over long-term unemployment benefits

The debate over a toughening of compensation conditions for the long-term unemployed is going on. After CDU-CSU representatives, large charity organizations are also asking for a reduction of payments related to long-term unemployment allowance, also called Hartz IV. (Réf. 06500)
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In a letter addressed to the presidents of the parliamentary groups CDU-CSU and SPD and to the Minister of Finance, the presidents of AWO, Diakonie and of the German red Cross propose, according to the Financial Times Deutschland, to lower the amount of the assistance which is added to the Hartz IV allowance. This additional assistance aims at helping people to cope with their rent, heating bills or children’s education. According to charity organizations, the series of measures recently adopt

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