The German handicraft expresses strong criticism of the planned new citizens’ income. It will mean that “for more people than before, not working is more worthwhile than working,” said the President of the Central Association of German Crafts (ZDH), Hans Peter Wollseifer.

The reasons he gave to the “Rheinische Post” included the “elimination of sanctions, the significant increase in the standard rate” and “the complete assumption” of the heating costs.

Criticism of citizen income: “Why should I work tomorrow at 7 a.m.?”

“The long-term unemployed need support to get back into work. The citizen money concept does not guarantee that sufficiently, so we don’t think it’s a good thing,” said Wollseifer. It causes “demotivation” for low earners. “Many people ask themselves why should I work at 7 a.m. when the person who does it Citizens’ money, gets almost the same, “the newspaper continues to quote the craft president.

The citizens’ allowance planned by the traffic light coalition is to replace the previous Hartz IV system in the coming year. In the course of the new concept, the obligations of the beneficiaries to cooperate and any future sanctions are then to be newly regulated. According to the will of the federal government, recipients of the new citizens’ allowance should receive around 500 euros a month from the turn of the year. The amount is well above the current Hartz IV standard rate of 449 euros for single people without children.

According to an evaluation, after the end of the tank discount, the fuel prices in this country are the second highest in Europe. Only two northern European countries are even more expensive when it comes to diesel and petrol.