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Corona crisis: Unions and associations are calling for a massive Hartz IV increase

2021-01-25T06:04:30.014Z


The pandemic has hit low-income people hard. Social associations are convinced that the regression can only be compensated for with a generous increase in the Hartz IV amounts.


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Mother with child: child poverty is growing

Photo: Marcel Kusch / DPA

In view of the corona pandemic, a broad alliance of 36 unions and associations is calling for the standard rates of Hartz IV and basic old-age security to be increased to at least 600 euros, as well as immediate additional corona aid for poor people.

The signatories of the demand include Ver.di, the education and science union, Awo, the social association VdK and the Diakonie.

"We must not allow socially disadvantaged people to be pushed further to the margins of society by and in the corona pandemic," said the President of the Social Association Germany, Adolf Bauer.

“We expect from this federal government without ifs and buts and without further excuses that it finally does something for the poor that really has substance.

Being poor is expensive, we can no longer afford symbolic politics, ”said Ulrich Schneider, the general manager of the joint association.

The Hartz IV standard rate for single people has been 446 euros since January 1.

Couples receive 401 euros per partner.

In addition to the increase to 600 euros, the alliance “Immediate aid for the poor - now!” Is calling for a “flat additional requirement surcharge” of 100 euros for the duration of the corona crisis.

All children and adolescents in families with low incomes should receive hardware and software as well as other learning materials that are necessary for the use of digital educational offers in schools.

In addition, protection against dismissal is required for tenants "to ensure that nobody loses their apartment due to income losses caused by the pandemic."

The alliance received support from the deputy SPD parliamentary group leader in the Bundestag, Katja Mast.

The corona pandemic and its consequences "hit the weakest the hardest," said Mast of the German press agency.

The SPD has therefore made proposals for support.

Specifically, she named a proposal by Federal Labor Minister Hubertus Heil (SPD) for a financial supplement for aid recipients in order to be able to buy the surgical or FFP2 masks that are now required in some areas of life.

“Extraordinary circumstances require extraordinary measures - the Alliance is right.

Now only our coalition partner has to move, «said Mast in the direction of the CDU / CSU.

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mik / dpa-AFX

Source: spiegel

All business articles on 2021-01-25

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