A former worker, in his mid-30s, worked as a warehouse worker at the company for nine months and earned 14 euros per hour.

In a recent interview with the media, the head of a well-known company in Germany, Horst Kottmeyer, expressed his concern about an increasingly widespread trend among workers in Germany.

Kottmeyer revealed that one of his employees, now a former company worker, decided that it was more worthwhile for him to receive citizen's income (Bürgergeld) and work “off the books” than remain employed at the company. This statement sparked a debate about a possibly growing phenomenon in German society, reports Fenix magazin.

The former worker, in his mid-30s, worked as a warehouse worker at the company for nine months and earned 14 euros per hour. Kottmeyer pointed out that this is the starting salary at his company. On the other hand, Bürgergeld recipients are paid 502 euros per month, with additional support for rent and heating costs. Kottmeyer, who is the third generation at the head of the company and employs 350 people, expresses concern that this kind of approach could attract other workers.

“There are still no concrete signs that other workers might join this trend, but there is a real danger of that. People are thinking that it is not worth working if those who receive assistance, along with off-the-books work, have higher income than employees,” said Kottmeyer.

It should also be noted that next year the Bürgergeld rate will rise to 563 euros per month, which further fuels the debate about whether Germany will become a society in which some “rest while others pay for it by working.” This phenomenon, if it spreads, could have a profound impact on the German labor market and social policy.

Source: poslovni.hr