As in any other country, attitudes toward welfare recipients in Germany are mixed
Once upon a time, there were two friends. They lived in harmony, thick as thieves. Together they were on welfare, together they went to the Red Cross. They brought home full bags stuffed with expired food. And life seemed wonderful and amazing.
Until one of the friends accidentally met her university acquaintance. He arrived in Germany two years later, but had already completed courses for a new profession (his diploma was not recognized) and found a job. Seeing his former youthful love cheerfully hauling free food from the Red Cross, he was horrified. He held a series of conversations with our heroine, resulting in her getting a job. The work was not easy, but not physically heavy either. Rather, just tedious. So, coming home after a 6-hour workday, along with professional pride, she also felt some fatigue, which is quite natural.
On receiving her first salary and seeing the amount deducted in taxes, our heroine was literally stunned. She shared her sad discovery with a friend more knowledgeable on this issue. He explained in simple terms that such high taxes exist because Germany has a stable social protection system, which includes assistance to welfare recipients.
“So a quarter of my hard-earned money will go to feed these parasites?” the now-working lady exclaimed in horror. And she quarreled forever with her close friend who was firmly on welfare.
And what do readers of “Russkaya Germaniya” think about social assistance?
Maria Ilzen (47 years old): “My husband and I have been in Germany for 16 years. We came from Saratov. Both have higher education.
From the very first day, right after finishing the “Sprachkurse,” we started looking for work. I got a job as a cleaner, my husband was hired at a construction site. The work was hellish — we had to sandblast various reinforced concrete structures. But we didn’t complain. Gradually we learned the language, and opportunities for professional courses arose.
Now my husband works as a “Hausmeister,” and I work in a kindergarten. We consider our jobs quite prestigious and are proud of them. We are also proud that we never allowed ourselves to be on welfare for a single day. It is humiliating when normal, healthy people — not the disabled or mentally retarded — are simply fed by the state out of humanitarian motives. It is humiliating when the Sozialamt gives money for seasonal clothing or a Christmas goose. At least, that's how it used to be. For some reason, many newcomers consider it beneath their emigrant dignity to wield a mop. They say they didn’t study to be a cleaner in Russia. But I like that in Germany any work is more respected than the status of a welfare recipient.
But we have to be realistic — all of us, Germans and Jews, came here to live with dignity. And to live with dignity, you have to work.”
M. Bronstein (49 years old): “I am from Moldova. When I received an invitation to Germany, I thought for a long time, couldn’t make up my mind. Even though life at home was not sweet. A one-room apartment needing renovation, an almost unpaid government job... But I finally decided. Now I’ve been living in Germany for almost 12 years, and all these years I’ve heard talk about welfare recipients. And what is there to say about us? How many native Germans also receive benefits!
Why do they all reproach us for every crust of bread? Can you even live normally on this money? We have to economize, cut back on everything. I can't even afford a cup of coffee or a portion of ice cream at a café once in a while. And going to a restaurant is a big event. And even then, only to a Chinese one.
I wait for bills from “Telekom” with my heart pounding. Do you think it’s good to live like this? In constant fear that there won’t be enough money. And don’t reproach me with this paltry benefit. Germany invited me — let it feed me! I didn’t ask to come; they invited me themselves...”
Aрина: “For a normal person, becoming a welfare recipient means ending up at the very bottom of society. And the hostile, disdainful attitude of local Germans is quite understandable. Just go to the Arbeitsamt, there are plenty of ads and offers.
After all, even with the current high unemployment rate, there are tens of thousands of job vacancies. Yes, unglamorous, yes, low-paid. But in the eyes of a local German, any worker looks more dignified than a welfare recipient, even if he is a “former Russian intellectual” three times over. Why do we Russians have a completely different view on this?!
Work has never humiliated anyone, but idleness truly dulls the mind. My neighbor, a young, healthy 25-year-old guy, knows nothing besides the couch, Russian TV, and beer. And worst of all — he doesn’t want to know. From time to time he goes to a one-euro job — picking up litter on the streets. Then, lying on the couch with a constant beer in hand, he goes on and on about how working for such peanuts is really not worth it... I am ashamed in front of Germans for our compatriots.”
Oleg Viktorovich (67 years old): “I believe that if such a system exists, then it is justified. People who cannot work should receive benefits; otherwise, how would they live? This is not a jungle, but a civilized country, and helping one’s neighbor is normal.
So the state helps, and there’s no need to sneer about it... If someone is lucky with work, that’s great, but we must not trample on those who are unlucky. It’s a kind of lottery!”
Tatiana Stern (Berlin): “I believe that by staying on welfare, people are just justifying their own idleness.
I don't think that welfare recipients should not be helped. The problem is that welfare recipients, healthy, able-bodied people, continue to remain on welfare. Everyone has a chance to rise. Why do some consider it more important to rise, while others think the main thing is not to lose welfare? A year and a half ago, I decided to get the status of selbstständig. I attended seminars, drew up business plans. Now I have already opened my small travel agency. Despite the fact that I receive subsidies from the state, I feel like a completely different person. A person who is "busy with something." True, I have not infected any of my friends with my example. They even make fun of me, saying that the money they receive "for free" I earn through my own labor. And, honestly, it's a little offensive…»
Natasha NIKOLAEVA. 