The government is also making savings in care and other areas. Trade unions and associations warn of far-reaching consequences.
In September, tens of thousands demonstrated at DGB demonstrations against social cuts, and now DGB and other associations are warning of concrete cuts plans. (Archive image) Photo: Christophe Gateau/dpa
Berlin. A broad alliance of trade unions and welfare associations is calling on the federal government to refrain from planned cuts in various social areas. “Social cohesion is a prerequisite for democratic stability,” write the German Trade Union Confederation (DGB), the unions IG Metall and Verdi, Caritas and Diakonie as well as social associations such as the VdK in a call available to the dpa.
Specifically, they criticize the care reform plans approved by the cabinet on Wednesday. In their opinion, the planned change in the classification of care levels would make it more difficult or impossible for those affected to use the benefits of long-term care insurance.
Eugen Brysch from the German Patient Protection Foundation also criticized the matter harshly. “The Federal Minister of Health wants to ban the Nursing Commission from thinking about key issues,” he told the dpa. Carsten Linnemann (CDU) would even reject constitutional proposals for merging statutory and private nursing care insurance in advance. Brysch demanded: “All issues and solutions must now be on the table.”
Linnemann had announced that the planned expert commission would examine models for social compensation mechanisms between the health insurance funds. However, the cap on personal contributions for care costs in the home, which is also called for by the SPD, should not be an issue there.
What the government is planning for nursing levels
The minister wants to respond to the increase in the number of people in need of care with stricter criteria. A relief amount for care level 1 for everyday assistance such as cleaning (131 euros) should also be removed, and a new entitlement to care support should be added. The draft is now being discussed in the Bundestag.
The associations warn: “It must be avoided that the adequate care of those in need of care and the laboriously achieved staffing of the facilities, which depends on the mix of care levels, are jeopardized.” The alliance is concerned that the government wants to implement cuts in other areas such as housing benefit, child allowance, maintenance advances and child, youth and integration assistance.
“Essential democratic significance”
The 14 associations that came together last year also include the Social Association of Germany (SoVD), the Paritätische Gesamtverband and other organizations such as the BUND and the German Women's Council.
The welfare state has “not only social and economic significance, but also essential democratic significance,” warns the alliance. Welfare state reforms must be implemented in everyday life, at work and at home. The associations call for “strong, reliable and solidarity-funded social security systems”. High assets and inheritances should be taxed appropriately.
