CDU on work and social affairs

The CDU wants to push at the federal level for lower taxes for the skilled trades and mid-sized firms and for a cap on social security contributions. It also calls for stricter rules in basic income support, easier immigration for skilled workers and incentives for extra work.

The CDU wants the federal government to lower taxes for small companies. Social security contributions should not keep rising. People who get state aid should also do something for it. Skilled workers from abroad should be able to come more easily. People who want to work past retirement age should be able to do so more easily.

In the CDU's view, labor costs must stay internationally competitive. In basic income support, the principle of "support and demand" is to be strengthened and abuse of benefits penalized. The minimum wage should not be used for campaign promises. For qualified workers, the CDU seeks unbureaucratic, clearly regulated immigration. Extra hours and work past retirement age are to be free of social security contributions. Together with the federal government, it wants to invest in rail, roads and waterways.

The CDU wants benefit recipients who are able to work to give something back. Taking part in the state's labor market programs would no longer be voluntary for them, and at the federal level the party wants to push through a broader duty to do community work.

Some people get money from the state and are able to work. The CDU says they should give something back. They should have to join the state's work programs. The CDU calls this Bürgerarbeit (citizen work). The party also wants a duty to do community work nationwide.

The CDU notes that it developed the Bürgerarbeit principle ten years ago and says it is unhappy with how it was carried out federally. Lessons learned are to feed into a new concept for an activating welfare state. Together with municipalities and the Federal Employment Agency, a program is to be set up that makes a binding job offer to recipients who refuse work. The party wants to reintroduce the broader duty to do community work at the federal level as a welfare state reform.

The CDU wants to strengthen meeting places for older people, counter loneliness and promote new forms of housing. It also wants to act against age discrimination and make sure services remain reachable without the internet.

The CDU wants to do more for older people. There should be meeting places for old and young. Nobody should be lonely. Nobody should be treated worse because of their age. Offices and companies should stay reachable without the internet.

According to the program, more than a third of people in the state are over 60. Together with municipalities, the CDU wants to advance senior participation and projects that connect generations. Against age discrimination it lists awareness and education efforts, age-friendly work models and clear rules for the workplace and daily life. Digital services are to become more user-friendly, while non-digital contact options are to remain.