Protesters were expected to hit the streets in more than 30 German cities today, two days after a sweeping reform of welfare payments aimed to cut long-term unemployment went into effect.
But unfazed by the protests, Economy Minister Wolfgang Clement told the weekly Bild am Sonntag he was confident "that the most comprehensive reform of the job market in the history of the Federal Republic of Germany will eventually be a success."
"I will be responsible for its success or failure," he added.
The controversial package of labor market reforms known as Hartz IV will have a wide-reaching impact on the lives of 4.5 million people out of work in what is still Europe's economic powerhouse.
It is impossible to tell for the moment exactly how many unemployed will lose money under the new system or who will benefit from the changes.
But those expected to feel the changes hardest are the long-term jobless and the 2.7 million people who the Federal Labor Agency says have used up their benefits and now receive only minimum welfare payments.
The Agency says less than 10 percent will lose their welfare payments altogether, a figure the unions reject. They put the figure at 27 percent and say 48 percent will have their income reduced.
To calculate the new benefits, the Federal Labor Agency analyses peoples' estate, their expenditure and their needs, which is already sparking controversy.
The government argues that overhauling Germany's generous social welfare system, once the envy of the world, will persuade people who have been out of work for more than a year to accept a job, no matter how low paid.
But support groups for the unemployed have criticized a move they say will make the poor poorer.
NO HUMAN ERROR: After the incident, the Coast Guard Administration said it would obtain uncrewed aerial vehicles and vessels to boost its detection capacity Authorities would improve border control to prevent unlawful entry into Taiwan’s waters and safeguard national security, the Mainland Affairs Council (MAC) said yesterday after a Chinese man reached the nation’s coast on an inflatable boat, saying he “defected to freedom.” The man was found on a rubber boat when he was about to set foot on Taiwan at the estuary of Houkeng River (後坑溪) near Taiping Borough (太平) in New Taipei City’s Linkou District (林口), authorities said. The Coast Guard Administration’s (CGA) northern branch said it received a report at 6:30am yesterday morning from the New Taipei City Fire Department about a
IN BEIJING’S FAVOR: A China Coast Guard spokesperson said that the Chinese maritime police would continue to carry out law enforcement activities in waters it claims The Philippines withdrew its coast guard vessel from a South China Sea shoal that has recently been at the center of tensions with Beijing. BRP Teresa Magbanua “was compelled to return to port” from Sabina Shoal (Xianbin Shoal, 仙濱暗沙) due to bad weather, depleted supplies and the need to evacuate personnel requiring medical care, the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) spokesman Jay Tarriela said yesterday in a post on X. The Philippine vessel “will be in tiptop shape to resume her mission” after it has been resupplied and repaired, Philippine Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin, who heads the nation’s maritime council, said
REGIONAL STABILITY: Taipei thanked the Biden administration for authorizing its 16th sale of military goods and services to uphold Taiwan’s defense and safety The US Department of State has approved the sale of US$228 million of military goods and services to Taiwan, the US Department of Defense said on Monday. The state department “made a determination approving a possible Foreign Military Sale” to the Taipei Economic and Cultural Representative Office in the US for “return, repair and reshipment of spare parts and related equipment,” the defense department’s Defense Security Cooperation Agency said in a news release. Taiwan had requested the purchase of items and services which include the “return, repair and reshipment of classified and unclassified spare parts for aircraft and related equipment; US Government
More than 500 people on Saturday marched in New York in support of Taiwan’s entry to the UN, significantly more people than previous years. The march, coinciding with the ongoing 79th session of the UN General Assembly, comes close on the heels of growing international discourse regarding the meaning of UN Resolution 2758. Resolution 2758, adopted by the UN General Assembly in 1971, recognizes the People’s Republic of China (PRC) as the “only lawful representative of China.” It resulted in the Republic of China (ROC) losing its seat at the UN to the PRC. Taiwan has since been excluded from