Federal Labor Minister Hubertus Heil (SPD) has defended the state’s expected higher spending on citizens’ money in Germany. The reasons for increased costs lie primarily in high inflation, weaker economic development and the care of Ukrainian refugees, said Heil in an interview with the news portal “T-Online” published on Sunday.
It had previously become known that citizens’ money would cost more money this year than was budgeted for. Heil therefore needs up to 2.1 billion euros additionally. According to the ministry, the estimated sum from last year was around 23.8 billion euros. This year, according to a letter from Finance State Secretary Florian Toncar (FDP) to the Budget Committee, which was available to the dpa, expenditure is expected to be 25.9 billion euros.
Heil said that the answers in terms of cost containment lie in the expected reduction in inflation, an economic recovery and more placement of Ukrainian refugees in jobs. “All of this will help to get people out of need into work and thus also reduce the costs of basic security.”
In the ongoing discussions for next year’s federal budget, he is also calling for more funds to be mobilized for the job centers than previously planned. The background is the “job turbo” announced by Heil, with which refugees with prospects of staying should be placed in work more quickly. To this end, placement work by the job centers should be intensified.
