The corona crisis is a major burden for many parents. But the Ministry of Labor does not want to extend an important aid. The step meets with outrage.
- In the corona crisis, daycare centers and schools have closed - operations are only slowly starting up again.
- Parents who had to look after children have so far been able to receive continued wages from the state. This help should now expire.
- Here you will find the basic facts about the corona virus * and the corona news from Germany. We also offer you the current number of cases in Germany * on a map. The following recommendations for corona protective measures * are currently available.
Berlin - Friday started with bad news for many parents: The federal government does not want to extend the continued wages for parents who cannot work due to closed daycare centers or schools in the Corona crisis .
"In view of the increasing number of schools and kindergartens opening, there will be no extension of the regulation as of today", said a spokeswoman for the Federal Ministry of Labor of the New Osnabrücker Zeitung (NOZ). Already in the morning, the decision met with outrage from parents - and from parts of the opposition. In particular, because there is currently no normal operation in schools and daycare centers.
Coronavirus: Ministry of Labor does not want to extend continued wages for parents
The reason: Parents have been able to receive 67 percent of their wages from the state for six weeks since March 30 if they have to look after children under the age of 12 during the pandemic due to closed daycare centers and schools and therefore have lost income . The benefit is limited to 2016 euros for a full month. Times when the day care center or school would be closed for holidays anyway * are not counted.
For some parents, the payments would be exhausted in mid-May . However, according to the Ministry of Labor, each parent has their own claim, “so that a total of 12 weeks of home care is possible”.
Corona virus in Germany: no continued payment of wages for parents? Left appeal to Merkel
This news is also piquant because the German government initially promised something different. Family Minister Franziska Giffey (SPD) announced in April that it would extend the loss of wages. Minister of Labor Hubertus Heil (SPD) had also announced a "follow-up regulation". The CDU had also called for an extension of continued wages for parents.
Left-wing parliamentary group leader Dietmar Bartsch appealed to Chancellor Angela Merkel (CDU) and Heil to "extend the six-week period" without red tape until there is regular operation at primary schools and daycare centers ". Also DGB executive Anja Piel urged in the NOZ to a rectification. According to their words, many families are "further aggravated by livelihoods and shortages of care" due to the emergency operation in the daycare centers and the limited school operation .
It is not acceptable that the loss of earnings compensation limited to 6 weeks expires without replacement. I urge the Federal Chancellor & Minister of Labor to act immediately and extend the claim unbureaucratically - until there is regular operation at primary schools and daycare centers. https://t.co/7um54LrTgZ
- Dietmar Bartsch (@DietmarBartsch) May 15, 2020Corona virus: Parents "at the limit" - anger over "crazy" decision to continue paying wages
The reason for the loss of continued payment of wages is stupid: Schools and day care centers open again. In Bavaria, only preschool children are allowed to come back to daycare from the end of May. And in school, the 6th graders have 2 times / week after Pentecost holidays. School!
- Claire Funke ☔️ (@Mamastreikt) May 15, 2020Another commentator judged the reason for the decision was "crazy", considering the comparatively small number of children who could go to daycare or school in Bavaria from the end of May (Merkur.de * reported). The women's council expressed a similar comment in a tweet: The Ministry of Labor ignored "that children can only be looked after for a few hours a week".
The reason for the loss of continued payment of wages is stupid: Schools and day care centers open again. In Bavaria, only preschool children are allowed to come back to daycare from the end of May. And in school, the 6th graders have 2 times / week after Pentecost holidays. School!
- Claire Funke ☔️ (@Mamastreikt) May 15, 2020There was also bad news from the German economy on Friday: Official figures show a recession - but the worst is likely to come.
dpa / fn / AFP
* Merkur.de is part of the nationwide Ippen-Digital editors network.
