Commission urged to draft a directive safeguarding workers from electronic device-related hazards.

In a ongoing debate in Berlin, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz (CDU) has proposed urgent social reforms to address issues such as stopping misuse of citizen benefits, ending the combination of undeclared work and benefit receipt, and reestablishing effective mediation between job centers and benefit recipients. However, Social Senator Cansel Kiziltepe (SPD) has criticized Merz's proposals, implying they exacerbate hardship and exclusion rather than solve underlying problems.

Merz, who made his comments at the North Rhine-Westphalia state party conference in Bonn, justified the need for social reforms due to high costs, including the "citizen's income." He expressed that the current system cannot be afforded with the current earnings and mentioned that the system has been living beyond its means for years. As a result, the social reforms proposed by Merz will involve changes to the "citizen's income."

Kiziltepe, the federal chairperson of the SPD's Working Group for Work (AfA), made her comments to the German Press Agency. She believes investments in social security are necessary, focusing on stable pensions and job retention. Kiziltepe warned against allowing social security to become a pawn in party political austerity rhetoric and suggested instead that we should look up to where more wealth is concentrated in fewer hands.

One specific aspect of the social security system that Merz highlighted as needing reform is the "citizen's income." However, he did not address the potential impact of these reforms on social cohesion, as Kiziltepe had previously done. Kiziltepe stated that questioning the social state endangers the cohesion of society, especially in economically challenging times.

Kiziltepe's comments were made in response to the debate initiated by Merz about the costs of social security systems. The debate is currently ongoing in Berlin. Merz did not specify the extent or details of the proposed cuts in the social reforms.

In contrast, Kiziltepe believes anything other than investments in social security is not understandable to the people. She stated that cuts will be involved in the social reforms, but emphasized that investments in social security are necessary to maintain a stable and cohesive society.

The "citizen's income" is a specific aspect of the social security system that provides financial support to individuals who are unable to work or have low incomes. The reform of this system is a contentious issue, with some arguing that it encourages dependency and discourages work, while others believe it is essential for ensuring a basic standard of living for all citizens.

The debate over the costs of social security systems and the proposed reforms is likely to continue in the coming months, as both Merz and Kiziltepe present their arguments to the German public. It remains to be seen how these reforms will impact the social state and the people it serves.