Plans to cut volunteer services: Fears of a clear cut
In Saxony-Anhalt, there is growing concern about the government's plans to cut voluntary services. Cuts to voluntary services would be counterproductive, said State Secretary for Social Affairs Susi Möbbeck to the Mitteldeutsche Zeitung newspaper published in Halle (Wednesday edition). Saxony-Anhalt is counting on their withdrawal in the parliamentary procedure. On Thursday, the Bundestag's budget committee is to make a final decision on the savings plans.
According to the newspaper, affected institutions and services have warned of deep cuts. Around 600 jobs in voluntary services across the country are at risk of being lost, Awo board member Steffi Schünemann told the newspaper. At Arbeiterwohlfahrt (Awo) alone, 60 out of 180 jobs are affected. "Cuts of this magnitude would be a social clear-cut with massive consequences for young people and the entire social infrastructure," criticized Schünemann. Deployment sites such as daycare centers, care and youth facilities, schools and hospitals would lose important helpers and, in the long term, junior staff.
The federal government wants to save a total of 113 million euros over the next two years. This corresponds to around a third of the previous expenditure for the Voluntary Social Year (FSJ), Voluntary Ecological Year (FÖJ) and the Federal Voluntary Service (BFD). According to the report, around 1200 young adults are currently working in the FSJ in Saxony-Anhalt and 138 in the FÖJ, according to the State Ministry of Social Affairs. There are also 1500 positions in the age-independent Federal Voluntary Service.
The concerns about the government's plans to reduce volunteer services in Saxony-Anhalt stem from the potential impact on various social affairs, as highlighted by State Secretary for Social Affairs Susi Möbbeck. The proposed cuts could lead to significant job losses in voluntary services nationwide, affecting institutions like daycare centers, care facilities, schools, and hospitals, as pointed out by Awo board member Steffi Schünemann.
Source: www.dpa.com
