Berlin is threatened with social collapse: budget cuts are alarming everyone!

Berlin is threatened with social collapse: budget cuts are alarming everyone!

In the current discussion about the Berlin Senate's budget draft, it is clear that the social and cultural institutions in Germany are facing major challenges. Again City report reports, the Berlin Senate has announced new cuts that will further strain the already ailing social fabric. These cuts follow a year in which significant cuts have already been made and mean that serious problems are to be expected, particularly in youth welfare and independent providers.

Andrea Kühnemann, the regional district manager of ver.di, commented on these developments and emphasized that the protests of the past few months have contributed significantly to the new, but insufficient, financial resources. Despite this positive turn of events, the union remains skeptical. According to Kühnemann, ver.di sees no reason to give the all-clear in the draft budget, as further cuts are being planned.

Contradictions and warnings from the social sector

The situation is alarming. Workers' Welfare Association, the German Red Cross and Diakonie Deutschland unreservedly reject the cuts plans. This is not happening without reason: a recent survey conducted by these charities shows that 40% of facilities have already had to limit or stop services altogether. These significant restrictions not only endanger the social infrastructure, but also the necessary support for many vulnerable groups who are dependent on social services, such as ver.di highlights.

Another point of criticism relates to the contradictory signals from politics. While skilled workers from abroad are invited to support the German economy, funds for integration measures and advice for migrants are also lost. This is considered negligent, especially given the growing uncertainty in the labor market.

Financial situation of social institutions

An alarming result of the survey by AWO, Diakonie Deutschland and Paritätischer Wohlfahrtsverband reveals that there has been an average cost increase of 16 percent since the beginning of 2022. 65 percent of the institutions surveyed expect further cuts in income. The result is clear: there is a risk of a quantitative and qualitative restriction of the social infrastructure, which is not only a concern for those working in the social professions, but also for the more than 377,112 people who rely on these services every day.

According to ver.di, the desire for reliable financial planning is becoming increasingly clear. A sustainable solution could lie in reviewing and increasing relevant taxes, such as property transfer tax and trade tax. This would be a step towards relieving the strained financial situation in social institutions and maintaining social cohesion in society.

The coming months will be crucial. The voices of welfare associations and trade unions urgently demand that the needs of people must be the focus of decision-makers in order to secure and strengthen the welfare state in the long term.