There was a lot of talk about prisoners at the Federal Constitutional Court this week, but they didn't get a chance to speak there themselves.

At least one of their representatives appeared before the Second Senate at the end of the first day of negotiations.

Manuel Matzke was previously imprisoned himself for serious fraud and is now spokesman for the prisoners' union.

He demands that prisoners receive the legal minimum wage for their work.

The "exploitation" must end.

Marlene Grunert

Editor in Politics.

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Prisoners in Germany currently get an hourly wage of 1.37 to 2.30 euros.

They work in the prisons' own businesses, in metalworking shops, for example.

But many companies also have simple work done there instead of migrating to low-wage countries.

It's about packaging work, sorting or enveloping.

Two prisoners have gone before the Constitutional Court against the low wages.

You think that the current hourly rates do not provide any recognition in the sense of the constitutional requirement for rehabilitation.

There can be no question that work in prison is worthwhile, Matzke also said.

Prisoners not only have to be paid better.

They should also be able to acquire pension entitlements in order to protect themselves from poverty in old age.

The native of Saxony said about the companies that produce in prisons: "They have recognized that these are special economic zones." Matzke's accusation of "exploitation" can hardly relate to the prisons.

Detention, including the provision of jobs, costs much more than what is generated.

100 euros “house money”, the rest goes into a savings account

The net principle applies in the prisons, nothing is charged here.

The prisoners do not share in the prison costs, which amount to almost 170 euros per day, but the wages are low.

Working prisoners earn up to 300 euros per month, of which 100 euros remain as “house money” for things like cigarettes.

The rest goes into a kind of savings account.

The chairwoman of the federal association of prison directors, Yvonne Radetzki, also believes that higher wages and the inclusion of prisoners in the pension insurance system are necessary.

But more money must also come with obligations, she demanded on Thursday.

Prisoners should be shared in the prison costs.

According to Radetzki, the net principle has so far stood in the way of personal responsibility.

“We take care of almost everything.

It starts when you wake up.”

Raising to minimum wage level seems unlikely

The expert clearly emphasized the importance of the work in everyday prison life.

Different things could be heard in Karlsruhe about how prisoners feel about the wages and whether they measure themselves against salaries outside.

Finally, Radetzki said: Perhaps it is simply a matter of the "self-evident fact" that one is paid appropriately for work and the need to adapt to the conditions outside.

This is also part of the rehabilitation requirement.

The judges will announce their verdict in a few months.

In it, they should hardly call for an increase to the level of the minimum wage, the differences have become too clear, for example with a view to productivity.

Some form of increase seems likely after the hearing - despite the sometimes clear objections of individual judges.