Fight for a social future: Diakonie calls for investments instead of cuts!

Fight for a social future: Diakonie calls for investments instead of cuts!

In the last few days, the federal government approved the draft budget for 2025 and the key figures for 2026. But the proposal remains a disappointment for many. Diakonie Deutschland expresses massive criticism of the draft: independent welfare is not sufficiently taken into account and urgent social challenges remain unconsidered. It is believed that a sustainable system for social and health infrastructure is essential to ensure, for example, the fight against poverty, the support of children and young people and the care of older and sick people. The integration of refugees and socially just climate protection must also be given greater focus, as Diakonie Deutschland reports.

Rüdiger Schuch, President of Diakonie Germany, emphasizes the need for significant investments in social infrastructure and social security. He refers to the more than two million employees in the non-profit social and health sector who rely on adequate financial resources. The planned cuts in social areas appear all the more worrying, which, according to Schuch, will have enormous consequences not only economically but also socially.

Urgent need for investment in independent welfare

The Federal Association of Independent Welfare Services (BAGFW) finds itself in a similar position and calls for more investment in social infrastructure. The draft, which is being discussed in the German Bundestag, envisages cuts in various areas, including aid for the long-term unemployed and integration courses. Particularly alarming is the planned drastic cut in the federal funding program for psychosocial care and advice for refugees, which is expected to fall from 13 million euros to just 7 million euros, almost halving. The BAGFW highlights that a survey of over 8,000 organizations in the summer showed that 63.8% of them had to restrict offers and services. 14.7% even had to discontinue complete offerings and more than 75% of those surveyed fear that they will continue to have to scale back their services in 2025.

Michael Groß, the President of the BAGFW, emphasizes the urgency of investing in social institutions. He is supported by Dr. Joachim Rock from the General Parity Association, who is calling for more funds for employment promotion and integration assistance. Gerda Hasselfeldt from the German Red Cross warns urgently about the negative consequences that a lack of investment can have on social offerings. Abraham Lehrer from the Central Welfare Office for Jews in Germany also emphasizes the serious long-term consequences of a lack of support for particularly vulnerable groups.

The path to a modern social infrastructure

The need for investment is also highlighted by Eva Welskop-Deffaa from the German Caritas Association, who calls for digital innovations in the social sector. Rüdiger Schuch and his colleagues agree: a socially just and equal opportunity restructuring of the economy is essential. Social challenges, such as climate adaptation and digitalization, must be addressed with targeted investments. The targeted restructuring not only aims to increase social security, but also strengthen the economy.

An appeal to the federal government is clear: in order to secure the social infrastructure for the future, not only a political announcement is required, but also the willingness to provide concrete financial resources. Otherwise, the social network on which many citizens depend will be at great risk.