Waking up some recipients of citizen aid at dawn to force them to join the workforce
The district of Nordhausen in Thuringia is witnessing a controversial experiment, where some recipients of citizen benefits are awakened at dawn to force them to join community service after they have been absent without excuse.
The security officer Sandra Hesse leads the campaign accompanied by staff and a social worker, visiting homes directly in case beneficiaries do not attend their scheduled activities. The team has faced various situations, from ignoring the doorbells to outright refusal, and sometimes unexpected cooperation.
This measure comes at a time when Germany is discussing reforming the citizen assistance system, with plans to tighten penalties for about 5.3 million beneficiaries starting this summer. In Nordhausen, unemployed youth are required to perform public service, and if they do not comply, they face financial reductions.
The district governor Matthias Jendricke believes that the state should help those in need due to illness, disability, or career change, but it should pursue those who settle into the system without a desire to work. With the upcoming reforms, penalties could directly lead to a 30 percent reduction in benefits.
So far, the results are mixed. Some participants have found a new system and discipline in daily work, while others have refused to commit and faced penalties. Supervisor Carlos Schreiber says that only a few feel proud of what they accomplish, while some see that visits from authorities to their homes help them overcome laziness and start anew.