(de-news.net) – The German Federal Government remains engaged in deliberations regarding the appropriate response to Bürgergeld recipients who repeatedly decline reasonable employment opportunities, commonly referred to as “total refusers.” Carsten Linnemann, General-Secretary of the Christian Democratic Union (CDU), has advocated for a reduction in social benefits for such individuals.

Federal Labour Minister Bärbel Bas of the Social Democratic Party (SPD) announced that her ministry has already formulated proposals and intends to present reforms to the Bürgergeld system in the autumn. In a public statement, she underscored the necessity of reaching consensus within the governing coalition. Minister Bas expressed support for the implementation of stricter sanctions and enhanced participation requirements, particularly targeting those who fail to attend scheduled appointments at Jobcenters without valid justification. She highlighted the demand among Jobcenter personnel for more effective enforcement mechanisms and proposed intensified measures to combat benefit fraud, especially cases involving undeclared employment. To facilitate the prompt cessation of improper payments, she recommended that the Zoll (customs authority) expedite the transmission of relevant findings to Jobcenters.

However, during an SPD executive retreat, Minister Bas acknowledged existing legal constraints, referencing the Federal Constitutional Court’s ruling that the subsistence minimum must be guaranteed under all circumstances. She reaffirmed the government’s commitment to imposing consequences for unjustified non-compliance and conveyed optimism that reform measures would be finalized by autumn. Both Linnemann and Bas emphasized that individuals genuinely unable to work would continue to receive full support under the revised framework.