Most citizens of Germany believe that work does not pay off, given the increasing social benefits, according to a public opinion survey by the INSA institute.

According to the survey, 52 percent of respondents do not think that work pays off, 40 percent believe the opposite, and eight percent refused to answer the question.

As the daily newspaper Bild states, with social assistance and a little undeclared work, it is possible to earn more than someone who is permanently employed and pays taxes and social security contributions, including social assistance for others.

The newspaper states that a warehouse worker from Bad Oeynhausen in western Germany quit after learning about the latest increase in unemployment benefits, Tanjug reports.

Based on the latest decision of the German government, that assistance will increase by 61 euros from January 1 of next year and will amount to 563 euros per month for a single person, plus housing and health insurance costs, which are covered by the state for social assistance recipients.

The daily newspaper Bild calculated that an employee working for the minimum wage, which is currently 13.9 euros per hour, earns about 2,000 euros gross.

After tax, pension and health insurance are deducted from him and after he pays rent and utilities, he is left with about 600 euros, which is only slightly more than unemployment benefits.

Among those who believe that going to work does not pay off, the largest number are supporters of the right-wing populist Alternative for Germany (AfD), the survey states.

Voters of the ruling coalition parties, the Social Democratic Party of Germany (SPD), the Greens and the Free Democratic Party (FDP), believe that work pays off.

Finance Minister Christian Lindner said last week that unemployment benefits should not have a discouraging effect on those who want to work.                             

The president of the largest opposition party, the Christian Democratic Union (CDU), Friedrich Merz, pointed out that those who go to work must earn more at the end of the month than those who receive social assistance.

Source: biznisinfo.ba