Council of Europe warns of socioeconomic inequality in Germany

What is the verdict of “Europe's leading human rights organization” on the socio-economic conditions in Germany? This question is answered in a new report by the Council of Europe's Commissioner for Human Rights, which she wrote after a visit to Germany lasting several days. The report focuses on general human rights protection in Germany, but also specifically on access to social rights. It addresses various obstacles, but a large part of the report concentrates in particular on increasing socioeconomic inequality and the high level of poverty in German society – despite the country's general economic wealth.

Specific problems addressed in the report include the still too low amounts of citizen's income and the outdated calculation methods. In this context, the Commissioner also criticizes the political narrative that work must be “worthwhile” and that citizen's income amounts should therefore be kept low. Reference is also made to the large low-wage sector in Germany, where workers are often dependent on additional financial support. In addition, this narrative and the associated political discourse create a social culture that stigmatizes poverty and leads to the shame of those affected.

Finally, the Commissioner addresses German politicians and authorities, calling on them to fulfill their obligations under the European Social Charter and take effective measures against growing inequality and poverty in Germany. Above all, she says, it is essential to raise awareness and sensitivity to the current problems—not only in politics, but throughout society as a whole.

We were also interested in the following topics:

• Social benefits: The ifo Institute has also addressed the question of whether work is currently “worthwhile” compared to citizen's income and has now published a new study on the subject. At the same time, the CDU presented a new proposal for a “basic income” to replace citizen's income. The Handelsblatt evaluates the concept based on the current facts.

• Temporary work: How widespread is the use of temporary work at present, what problems does it cause, and how should it be dealt with in the future? An analysis by the Hans Böckler Foundation provides answers.

• Commuting: Women spend less time on average commuting to work than men, who generally have different commuting habits. This is shown by a study by the Institute for Employment Research.

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