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Photo: DPA

Long-term jobless 'lazy and picky' say Germans

Published: 16 Oct 12 15:58 CET | Print version
Online: http://www.thelocal.de/society/20121016-45589.html

More than half of Germans think people on basic unemployment support do not look hard enough for work, or are too picky about what they are offered, while a third do not think the long-term unemployed even want to work.

The poor image most Germans have of their fellow citizens who receive the Hartz IV basic unemployment payment, which amounts to around €360 a month, was illustrated in a study by the Allensbach research institute in a study published on Tuesday.

Yet the prejudices were largely wrong, said Heinrich Alt, from the Labour Office. He said 62 percent of those on Hartz IV were actively seeking work, even though 55 percent of those surveyed did not think they were.

And although 57 percent of respondents said they thought Hartz IV recipients rejected too many job opportunities, 71 percent of recipients said they would take a job for which they were overqualified, said Alt.

He said that although 37 percent of Germans think the long-term unemployed do not want to work, for 75 percent of those concerned, finding a job is the most important thing in their lives.

Alt said he wanted to counter the image of Hartz IV recipients as lazy, choosy, poorly educated people.

Although half of Germans think Hartz IV recipients are badly qualified, 44 percent have completed a professional qualification.

“Of course we do not only have Olympic icons in receipt of basic support,” he said. “They are people with gaps in their work histories, with rough edges.” But he said these kind of qualities can be of interest to prospective employers.

“The majority are motivated and deserve a second chance,” he said.

Yet as Alt was trying to improve the image of Hartz IV recipients, figures released on Tuesday showed that the number being punished with reduction of their payments was reaching record highs.

The Labour Office punished more than half a million in the first half of the year, and the figure for the full year is expected to break a million for the first time.

A spokesman for the office said the good situation in the labour market meant many jobs had been offered to those out of work. Sanctions are used to reduce the payments of those who refuse jobs on offer. But the spokesman would not speculate about the reasons behind the record number of refusals.

DAPD/DPA/The Local/hc

What do you think? Leave your comment below.


Your comments about this article:

19:35 October 16, 2012 by Englishted
"But the spokesman would not speculate about the reasons behind the record number of refusals. "

He should not need to "speculate" .they have the reasons but are afraid to disclose them .

People are sick and tired of being used and abused ,paid a low wage with no security by agencies that the unemployment office sends people to instead of helping them find "real" jobs.
23:38 October 16, 2012 by pepsionice
I will say this.....out of every ten people on Hartz IV....at least four of them just won't seek work period, and need someone to basically hold their hand and force them to do actual physical labor.
08:47 October 17, 2012 by Steve1949
I agree with pepsionice. You see these people everyday in evry city in Germany begging for money. Young and healthy people who obviously have no interest in working a full time job. BTW, I was on Hartz IV for 9 months and hated it totally. At 62 I obviously didn't get any job referrals. I dropped Hartz IV on my own account.
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