Berlin – CDU politician Stefan Nacke (49) wants to eliminate petty jobs completely! His move caused additional commotion in a tense economic situation.
“Too many people are caught in the trap of small jobs – we can no longer accept it,” Nacke, head of the workers’ group at the Union parliamentary group, told “Süddeutsche Zeitung”. The SPD agreed with him, there was applause from the opposition – but retailers and restaurants were horrified and there was resistance from within their own ranks.
CDU politician Stefan Nacke wants to eliminate small jobs step by step
Nacke said: “Small jobs should be abolished because they are replacing regular jobs.” What was initially thought to be a flexible solution has now become a problem.
The CDU politician spoke of the “fault of the system” and wanted to return small jobs “to their original purpose” – “as a form of transition for students or retirees, not as a replacement structure for permanent employment.”
► Dagmar Schmidt (52), deputy of the SPD parliamentary group and social expert, supports the proposal: “It is good that what many employees have been experiencing for years has finally reached the Union: small-time work has become a trap for too many people.” Anyone who works “should have social security – with real rights, prospects and a pension you can live with,” Schmidt said.
► The Greens and the Left cheer! Armin Grau (66), a labor market expert from the Green Party, told BILD: “A correction that has been long overdue and finally recognized by the Union.” Left-wing leader Ines Schwerdtner (36) offered cooperation: “We are ready to create framework conditions so that small jobs no longer become a means of lowering wages and social dumping.”
Left-wing leader Ines Schwerdtner thinks this initiative is good
Obstacles from within our own ranks
► CDU medium-sized business leader Gitta Connemann (61) stressed how important small jobs are, especially in retail and catering: “Medium-sized businesses and employees need small jobs. The model is attractive and uncomplicated.” He demands: “If you want to make small-time jobs redundant, you have to make jobs subject to social security contributions more attractive – for both parties.”
CDU mid-sized business leader Gitta Connemann called for alternatives in small jobs discussions
“Completely counterproductive”
► The German Trade Association (HDE) warns against Nacke’s idea. Managing Director Stefan Genth told BILD: “This initiative is completely counterproductive in a difficult economic situation.”
More than 3.1 million people currently work in the retail sector, including around 800,000 small workers. This is important for retail, “to be able to offset certain industry peak times of lunch and evening.” If this potential workforce were lost “suddenly,” “then there would be no possibility of compensation,” Genth warned.
Because: In a worst-case scenario, retailers “will no longer be able to offer their usual service at all times and throughout Germany”.
“Small work is very necessary”
► Federal Association of Dehoga (hoteliers, innkeepers) is also worried. Managing director Sandra Warden told BILD: “Small jobs are an integral part of the host world.”
Warden made it clear: “We know from the past that attacks on small jobs lead to their loss or migration to undeclared jobs.” Dehoga therefore “urgently” called on the federal government to “concentrate efforts through the coalition agreement, on measures to increase flexibility (…) and reduce bureaucracy”.
