There are new proposals from the industry and the opposition to better pay nursing staff during the corona pandemic.

Instead of paying a bonus to the staff, it would be better to exempt them from parts of the wage tax, suggest the German Care Council and the German Hospital Association (DKG).

The CDU health politician Erwin Rüddel wants to improve finances by asking those who refuse to be vaccinated to pay.

"Should there be a general obligation and should fines be imposed, I would find it a good sign if funds of a comparable amount flow directly into care," says Rüddel.

"After all, it is now largely those who refuse to vaccinate who are pushing the health system to its limits."

Christian Geinitz

Business correspondent in Berlin

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The debate is sparked by the proposal by Health Minister Karl Lauterbach (SPD) not to pay the planned care bonus to all employees, but above all to those “who were particularly exposed to the corona pandemic”. These were "taken at personal risk", he told the "editorial network Germany". By limiting the number of beneficiaries, the minister wants to avoid the premiums being too low: "Then the bonus can also be set in a significant amount."

His house is currently working on a draft bill based on the coalition agreement.

This provides for a bonus of one billion euros.

Up to 3000 euros per case should not be taxed, twice as much as before.

From this it can be deduced what amount per employee the government has in mind and why the circle should be restricted: If the total amount was distributed to all 700,000 clinic nurses, it would be 1,400 euros per head.

The coalition agreement also provides for payments to inpatient care facilities, where almost 800,000 people work.

Do we need real reforms rather than more bonuses?

So far there have been two corona bonuses, which together were only half as high as the new one. In 2020, 100 million euros flowed from contributions from statutory and private health insurance to around 430 hospitals, followed by 450 million euros from federal funds for around 980 clinics in 2021. Actually, these premiums are aimed “primarily at nursing staff in bedside care,” the ministry said. “In addition, other particularly stressed hospital employees could also receive bonuses, including cleaning staff.” However, the distribution of each house was regulated separately by mutual agreement between the house management and the employees.

“The first two bonuses created a huge mess and too much injustice,” says Nursing Council President Christine Vogler. “There will be dissatisfaction again now if Mr Lauterbach's proposal becomes a reality.” Vogler generally considers premiums to be the wrong approach: “These are alms with which politicians want to fob us off and at the same time calm their guilty conscience because of the working conditions and the pay in nursing is still so bad. ”It would be better to exempt nurses from wage tax retrospectively for the entire Corona period; However, social contributions should continue to be levied. "Without the wage tax, 300 to 600 euros more would end up in the pay bag every month, which is much more sustainable than any bonus," says Vogler.

The suggestion of the hospital society goes in a similar direction. “A one-time bonus doesn't help,” says DKG chairman Gerald Gaß. It would make more sense to reward all employees with a tax-free allowance for the years 2021 and 2022. "More net than gross could lead to people returning to care or increasing their working hours." According to Gaß, the first bonus payments were "not easy for the cohesion in the hospital and were not perceived as appreciation everywhere". Gaß rejects the minister's proposals for limitation: "All nurses in the clinics have been doing exceptional things for almost two years."

Lauterbach is backed by the Greens.

"The watering can principle of the first payments did not do much for the individual," says health politician Kordula Schulz-Asche.

“The new bonus must be tailored to those nurses who have done a lot during the pandemic, according to clear criteria.” The focus should be on intensive care on corona and non-corona wards as well as in-patient care for the isolated.

Schulz-Asche expects the care bonus to be passed by Easter.

At the same time, it is important to reform the care situation as a whole: "The bonus is a sign, but not a substitute for better working conditions and higher regular pay."