Minister announces more pressure via job centers

North Rhine-Westphalia’s Minister of Social Affairs Karl-Josef Laumann has announced more pressure from the job center on recipients of citizens’ benefit. “We will continue to increase the level of support at the municipal job centers next year: every intermediary will have at least 20 personal discussions a week on site, and direct contact with the recipients of citizens’ benefit will be sought again and again,” said the CDU politician the “Rheinische Post” (Friday).

The third of the citizens’ benefit recipients who repeatedly did not come had to realize that solidarity was a two-way street. “In other words, there have to be sanctions,” Laumann continued.

The NRW minister gave details about a possible citizen’s money reform: “The word citizen’s money will no longer exist with the CDU.” It is misunderstood by many as an unconditional basic income. Everyone who can work should take up a job.” We also have to move away from “using all our power to keep people in the social system” – and instead “use additional income limits to make it more fun to work again”.

In North Rhine-Westphalia, a placement offensive in the 18 municipally run job centers has placed twelve percent more people compared to 2023, said Laumann. We want to continue that.