Germany still has a well-developed social system. People still fall much more gently here than in other countries. If you lose your job or become incapacitated for work, you can count on appropriate cover. You don't have to starve to death in Germany. And the unemployed are by no means denied vital medication. In other countries, the situation is quite different. Germany is admired worldwide for its well-functioning social system.
It ensures that, for the most part, people do not have to worry too much about their existence. This also pays off economically. People who are paralysed by fear are less productive. Those who are protected in the event of an emergency can concentrate on their work without worrying too much. Retraining is also supported in Germany. This means that if a company is wound up, people can train for other sectors and embark on new career paths. Comprehensive counselling supports such retraining and paths to new shores. The social welfare system has already helped many people out of difficult situations and given them new prospects in life.
This basic security is something to be proud of. Germans can count themselves lucky that they have this security. But legal regulations such as the mandatory minimum wage also ensure that certain standards are met. In many other countries, there is no such social safety net or statutory minimum wage, and holiday arrangements are also worse. Another important aspect is targeted family support. In Germany, this is supported by both tax incentives and parental leave options. This gives parents the opportunity to provide comprehensive support during their child's important early years as well as financial support and the security of being able to keep their own job. Many people in other countries can only dream of such arrangements. Germany specifically promotes them.
The country wants its own population to bring children into the world and take good care of them. With the right regulations, these needs are optimally supported. The German social system certainly provides good support in this respect. Women are also sometimes given targeted support if they want to return to work after parental leave. Employers have long since realised that they cannot do without the special qualifications of experienced specialists and should also make a contribution to the country's social system themselves. The change in gender roles, combined with important changes to parental leave, has also led to more and more fathers taking parental leave. Some couples also share parental leave. This spreads the burden across different shoulders and each couple can choose the option that best suits their needs.
Once support services have been agreed in the German system, they are often backed up with very targeted information and accompanying measures. The statutory minimum wage is also widely welcomed today, despite a fierce debate when it was introduced. Individual resolutions have even been passed on the gradual increase. The German social system may be cumbersome, but despite all the criticism, it does a good job and is a good reason to live here.
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