Hartz IV: Minister of Labor Heil plans drastic relief for recipients

Created: 03/02/2022, 11:18 am

The controversial Hartz IV sanctions could soon come to an end.

© Michael Gstettenbauer/Imago Images

In the case of Hartz IV, the principle of promoting and demanding actually applies.

For a long time, this also included possible cuts in performance.

Now the tide is turning.

Berlin - Federal Minister of Labor Hubertus Heil (SPD) wants to suspend the controversial Hartz IV* sanctions before the planned citizen income is introduced.

In connection with the introduction of the citizens' income, the obligations to cooperate in the basic security for job seekers should be reorganized, the Federal Ministry of Labor announced on Tuesday.

"As an interim step towards a new legal regulation, the sanctions will be suspended until December 31, 2022."

Hartz IV: Heil wants to work on the obligation to cooperate

After that, the duties to cooperate should be reorganized, the Ministry of Labor said.

At the same time, it pointed out that in 2019 the Federal Constitutional Court had requested a new legal regulation of the duties to cooperate.

According to the Ministry of Labour, the draft law on the sanctions moratorium is to be launched by the cabinet in March and will come into force in the summer.

The corresponding draft law is currently being voted on within the government.

The comprehensive new regulation of unemployment benefit II is a central concern of the traffic light parties.

The coalition agreement states that the planned citizens' allowance should "respect the dignity of the individual, enable them to participate in society and be accessible digitally and easily".

It focuses on "people's potential and support for sustainable integration into the labor market".

From Hartz IV to citizen's income: obligations to cooperate should remain

According to the coalition agreement, the obligations of Hartz IV recipients to cooperate should continue to exist, but they should be reorganized by “the end of 2022 at the latest”.

So far, the obligations have included that regular appointments have to be made at the employment agency and that those affected take part in reintegration measures.

Anyone who does not do this faces sanctions - in particular a reduction in benefits.

In 2019, the Federal Constitutional Court was critical of particularly extensive cuts.

"Until the new legal regulation, we are creating a one-year moratorium for the previous sanctions below the subsistence level, which must also apply to municipal job centers," the coalition agreement continues.

Heil now wants to implement this plan.