German Government Implements Stricter Rules to Encourage Recipients of Citizen Income to Seek Employment
The federal government in Berlin has announced plans to implement stricter rules in order to encourage more recipients of citizen income to take up employment. These measures are part of the Growth Initiative of the Traffic Light Coalition, aimed at revitalizing the sluggish German economy.
One of the key changes includes considering a longer commute to work as reasonable. Refusal of a reasonable job offer will result in increased benefit reductions, and engaging in black market work will also lead to penalties.
The 31-page document outlining these measures is available on the website of the Federal Ministry of Finance. According to the government, strengthening the principle of reciprocity is necessary to maintain acceptance of benefits and propel more individuals into employment.
Under the new rules, a commuting time of up to two and a half hours will be deemed acceptable for a daily work schedule of up to six hours. For work schedules exceeding six hours, individuals may have to accept up to three hours of commuting each way.
Job centers will also be tasked with searching for job placements within a radius of 50 kilometers, in an effort to facilitate easier access to employment opportunities for citizens receiving income support.
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