Priority to welfare and to young people

Not even Germany has been spared the consequences of the international crisis, although the impact is less evident compared to other Countries. The policy training coordinator of the German Catholic Young Workers Association (CAJ), Michael Herkendell, shared his reading of contemporary social and political phenomena in Germany with Massimo Lavana for SIR Europe, also in the light of the Bundestag elections of September 22, with a view to the urgent issues involving the family and the youth.According to your association, which welfare measures need to be reviewed or reconsidered by the next government? “Over the past months and during the electoral campaign the family policies of the outgoing government coalition focused on the theme of the Betreuungsgeld (childcare allowances), which currently amount to 100 euro. The benefits are enjoyed as of August 1 2013 by parents with children under 3 who don’t attend kindergartens. In Germany the measure – ironically described by opposition parties as the “hearth premium” – has become a controversial issue, and a large number of MPs and government leaders fear that they may be viewed as false incentives for women. Moreover, the population at large is asking the government to increase public funding to nursery schools. It should also be said that childcare allowances are added to unemployment benefits. Also German bishops are aware of the problem. But on the basis of our own experience we know how hard it is for families – especially for women – to reconcile work and the family. In Germany children still are the social bracket that is most at risk of poverty. The ‘Betreuungsgeld’ will not solve this problem, and in the future family benefits will constitute a patchwork that the next government will not address, regardless of its composition”. What are the urgent issues at stake in terms of youth policies? “Contrary to its European neighbours, Germany has relatively low unemployment rates, but it should not be forgotten that individual destinies underlie concrete findings. 1.5 million young people under 25 have not received any training and others looking for a job are not included in the statistical findings. Furthermore, once completed their studies, well-trained youths are likely to find closed-end jobs with temporary employment agencies. In such precarious conditions it’s very hard to make plans for a family.  Many of the problems involving education policies in Germany fall within the responsibility of the Länder, and the possibility of obtaining a diploma largely depends on the spending capacity of their parents. This situation brings about precarious working conditions and low education levels, largely resulting from the family environment”.Which major economic problems should the executive-elect take into due account?”As compared to our European neighbours – Belgium, France or Denmark – in Germany unitary salary costs are very low. This is a clear advantage for German businesses in terms of competitiveness. With such policy not only do we destroy job opportunities in neighbouring countries but we also weaken internal demand, since the salaries are low. In my opinion, and also for CAJ, there should be minimum wages for all. The fact that some workers are paid three to four euros an hour is unacceptable. Real salaries in Germany have decreased over the past years, while corporate profits and those of a small group of rich people have increased in larger proportions compared to the rest of the population”.How do German Catholics consider the problem of the social gap?  “Catholics cannot afford to sleep quietly while people rummage through rubbish cans in search of glass containers they can sell to make ends meet, while rich people wish to escape their own responsibilities by limiting expenses and State interventions. That is precisely the picture emerging from welfare policies. In Germany, those in need of assistance for themselves or for their dear ones run high chances of sliding into poverty. The situation is unsustainable. A State that spends billions to save the banks should be capable of supporting a society in which people in need of support may lead dignified lives”.