Governing Mayor of Berlin Michael Müller is convinced: budget funds should be invested not in supporting the unemployed by financing their idleness, but in their employment
As "Russkaya Germaniya" notes, Michael Müller's concept involves financing new jobs in the field of community service from the budget. Those who have lost their jobs or have been unable to find one for a long time will be offered jobs by the Employment Centers with pay at a minimum fixed rate. For example, as a controller in public transport, a caregiver for the elderly and disabled, a courier for grocery shopping services, a concierge in housing associations, an assistant educator in daycare centers and after-school groups, or a tourism instructor, a consultant in refugee reception centers, a handyman in cultural institutions, etc.
The Berlin Senate intends to launch a pilot project, designed for 1,000 jobs in city, municipal, and non-profit organizations of the capital, as early as April 2019. But at the federal level, Müller's concept could be implemented even earlier. Back in July, the federal government approved a similar initiative by Labor Minister Hubertus Heil.
The obvious downside of the Müller–Heil concept is that the participation of the unemployed themselves in the programs on the terms of the solidarity basic income is purely voluntary. That is, if a person wants to get a job, they will get it. If they do not want to, they will remain a recipient of Hartz IV benefits. As labor expert Jürgen Schupp from the German Institute for Economic Research (DIW) commented on this provision, "thus, the model will not replace Hartz IV, but may become an additional tool in the set of measures to involve the long-term unemployed in work."
The federal government at its meeting approved the project of Labor Minister Hubertus Heil to increase Hartz IV benefit rates in 2019. Single individuals will receive 424 euros per month, which is 8 euros more than now, and adult family members living with them (in particular, spouses) will receive 382 euros per month (also +8 euros). Benefits for teenagers and children will be increased by 6 euros per month: teenagers aged 14 to 17 will receive 322 euros per month, and children aged 6 to 13 will receive 302 euros.