FDP politician Suding on extended short-time work benefits: "Dead industries are artificially kept alive"

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Katja Suding in Hamburg (archive): "Everything in this country must be possible if the appropriate arrangements are in place"

Markus Scholz / dpa

In the corona crisis, finance minister Olaf Scholz is working on a plan to extend the period of drawdown for short-time allowance to 24 months. Chancellor Angela Merkel (CDU) is also "fundamentally positive" about the SPD politician's plans. Sharp criticism is now coming from the FDP.

"If you artificially keep dead industries alive, as the government does, only tax money is burned - and the companies die anyway, just maybe a year later," said the deputy chairman of the Liberals, Katja Suding, the "Kölner Stadt- Indicator".

"The short-time allowance would have to be used much more precisely than what it always was: a bridging aid for companies in a difficult phase, but with prospects for success," said Suding. The vice-party chairman cited the tourism industry as an example of misdirected aid.

Suding: "Government gelatinizes symptoms"

The corona slump in the economy has led to an unprecedented level of short-time work in Germany. Basically, there is currently a maximum period of twelve months for short-time work benefits. In certain cases, the period can now be extended to up to 21 months. Due to the short-time work allowance paid by the Federal Employment Agency (BA), a large part of the salaries can continue to flow under certain conditions if companies have to temporarily reduce working hours.

With a further expansion just one year before the next general election, said Suding, "the government is pasting the symptoms of the crisis so that the consequences are not felt now and the bad news arrives later," criticized Suding. She called for the immediate approval of major events such as concerts and football games with an audience. "Everything in this country must be possible if there are appropriate arrangements and a minimum of responsibility on the part of those involved."

Finance Minister Scholz justified an extension with the words: "The corona crisis will not suddenly disappear in the next few weeks. Companies and employees need a clear signal from the government: We will go with you all the way through the crisis, so that nobody is left behind will be released without distress. " A spokesman for the finance ministry estimates the cost of this at several billion euros. He did not give an exact number.

apr / AFP