CDU vice-chairman Breher: Basic child protection an empty promise
The deputy chairwoman of the CDU, Silvia Breher, has criticized the planned basic child insurance as an empty promise. "This draft bill from the federal government does not deserve the big name of basic child security," Breher told the German Press Agency.
"It promises a lot, but delivers none of it." The money, which will be needed for a new administration starting next year, should instead be invested directly in children and young people and in early childhood education.
Today, the basic child protection scheme will have its first reading in the Bundestag, followed by an expert hearing in the Family Affairs Committee on Monday. It remains to be seen when exactly the social policy project of the traffic light coalition will be passed in the Bundestag and Bundesrat.
At least the implementing authority, the Federal Employment Agency, believes that the timetable proposed by Family Minister Lisa Paus (Greens) - with a start date of January 1, 2025 - is not feasible. Instead, it proposes in a statement that the basic child insurance should only be introduced gradually from July 1, 2025.
Existing benefits such as child benefit, benefits from the citizen's allowance for children and the child supplement are to be bundled into the basic child protection scheme. The Greens and FDP had argued fiercely for months over the financing and finally agreed on an initial additional cost of 2.4 billion euros.
The Bundestag is set to discuss the first reading of the basic child protection scheme today, which has been criticized by CDU vice-chairman Breher as an empty promise for family social affairs. Consequently, Breher suggests that the funds intended for this scheme should be directly invested in children and young people, and early childhood education instead.
Source: www.dpa.com
