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Rainer Schlegel criticizes the fact that the general public has to pay for the retirement income of mini-jobbers

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Friedrich Bungert / picture alliance / SZ Photo

As a social judge, Rainer Schlegel saw many a human fate in his career - and many a blossoming of the welfare state. For example, if this still subsidizes part-time work despite a shortage of skilled workers. In an interview with the "Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung" a few weeks before his retirement, the President of the Federal Social Court gave the traffic light government a few reform suggestions.

For a CDU member, Schlegel's move to question spousal splitting is probably rather unusual. In the conversation, he demanded that we need to think about converting into a family split. »This would make marginal employment less attractive. Politicians should finally take note of the changing realities in the world of work," he said, "and draw the necessary conclusions from them."

Schlegel also calls for a reduction in subsidies for part-time work. Many labor market policy measures came from times of high unemployment. »The marginal employment, the so-called mini-jobs, is also an anachronism. They should be abolished,” he said. Marginal employment is very popular. "But it is not socially fair because it imposes costs on the general public, at the latest when it comes to old-age security."

“We won’t be able to afford a lot of things anymore”

Other hurdles to ensure that both partners in a marriage or civil partnership have an activity subject to social insurance contributions include the non-contributory co-insurance of a partner who does not work regularly with the health insurance company. According to estimates, this costs the solidarity community between 8 and 13 billion euros every year. This incentive to only work in the form of a mini-job must also be eliminated, says Schlegel.

At the same time, he calls for a change of course in social policy. The government must also draw conclusions from the “turning point” in the welfare state. "Russia's attack also represents a turning point for the welfare state," warned the country's highest social justice judge. The traffic lights pretend to have everything under control. But he warned: "We will no longer be able to afford a lot of things."

In view of the 12 percent increase in citizen's money at the beginning of the year, Schlegel said in the "FAZ" interview that Federal Labor Minister Hubertus Heil should take even stricter action against those who exploit the citizen's money and do not cooperate with the job centers. “How we deal with this group is crucial to whether the entire system is accepted by the general population,” said Schlegel, who headed the labor law department in the Federal Ministry of Labor from 2010 to 2013 during the black-yellow federal government.

Schlegel argued that the sanction options allowed by the Federal Constitutional Court were not exhausted with a two-month withdrawal of benefits for total refusers. SPD politician Heil recently implemented a corresponding tightening of sanctions against those who reject any job offers - up to and including the temporary cancellation of citizens' benefits. The new regulation is controversial among Green and Social Democratic social politicians; previously the job centers were allowed to cut a maximum of 30 percent of citizens' benefits.

Increase education spending instead of social benefits

Schlegel also doesn't believe in the plan, particularly pushed by the Greens, to bundle social benefits for families with basic child welfare. This is “unsuitable” for helping families. Their difficulties “cannot be solved by a new authority and even more interfaces,” he said.

Instead of the responsibility of Family Minister Lisa Paus (Greens), it belongs in the hands of Labor Minister Heil. He also rejected the politician's proposal to increase benefits for families through basic child welfare. “In my view, higher cash benefits are the wrong approach,” he said.

“If you want to do something for children, please do it by strengthening the educational infrastructure,” said Schlegel. He called for more personal responsibility on the part of citizens. "Our state is increasingly developing towards paternalism." The credo: "Don't worry, we'll take care of you." However, that is a sign of paternalism.

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