Socio-Political Transformations: A Call for Practical and Feasible Reform Agendas
Labor Minister Barbara Bas (SPD) has issued a warning against the use of catchy terms for social security reforms before substantial progress has been made. Her comments come amidst speculation about the federal government's Agenda 2030 and the ongoing reform process in the field of social policy.
Minister Bas did not specify what she considers a "big breakthrough" in social security reforms, but she did mention several committees currently operating in the domain of social policy. These include a state secretary committee on bureaucracy reduction, the social security commission, and one commission each for pensions, health, and care.
The simultaneous operation of these various committees presents a particular challenge, according to Minister Bas. She also emphasized the importance of summarizing all the results from these committees once substantial progress has been made.
Minister Bas has shown some resistance from the Union's ranks regarding the expansion of contributors to pension insurance. However, she has expressed openness to the idea, mentioning civil servants, members of parliament, and the self-employed as potential additions. She stressed the importance of this expansion for intergenerational justice, stating that it is a topic that needs discussion.
In addition to social security reforms, Minister Bas has highlighted several measures aimed at bolstering the labor market. These include rescuing women from part-time traps, encouraging older people to work longer voluntarily, qualifying young people without training, and winning foreign skilled workers.
Minister Bas has also emphasized the role of a robust labor market for the stability of pensions. She stated, "The more people contribute, the more stable the pension will be." However, she has shown some resistance to raising false hopes with premature buzzwords for social security reforms.
The coalition has set itself the task of thoroughly reviewing the social security systems, and a reform commission in the field of social policy, established by Minister Bas, is currently working on creating a modern and less bureaucratic social state while preserving social protection levels. This commission involves representatives from federal, state, and local governments and aims to present a final report by the end of 2025. Its key tasks include reforming tax-financed social benefits such as Bürgergeld, housing allowance, and child allowance, with goals to consolidate social benefits, speed up administrative processes, and promote digitalization.
Minister Bas has suggested that if a major breakthrough in social security reforms is achieved, a name will be found for it. However, she has urged caution and patience in the process, emphasizing the importance of thorough review and substantial progress before any labels are attached.
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