Activation 'Made in Germany' : welfare-to-work services under the 'Social Code II'

Abstract

The authors begin by describing the content of the so-called Hartz reforms in Germany and how they were implemented. This refers above all to the amalgamation of unemployment benefit and social security to form unemployment benefit II (ALG II), the introduction of the concept of 'employability' and of the 'needy household'. Following that, they look at the organisational problems during implementation and the role of the Job Centre and discuss the tasks and role of the case manager. In doing so the authors refer to the results of research in the field. Among the topics dealt with are employment placement and employment advisory services in practice, integration agreements and the use of sanctions. The end result is a great heterogeneity both of those looking for work and of the case managers, and this leads to differences in the quality of how the cases are managed. What is problematic is the dual role of the case manager who on the one hand supports the person looking for work with advice and on the other evaluate his/her efforts to find work, imposing sanctions if requirements are not met. The integration agreement becomes a bureaucratic instrument which increases the asymmetrical power relationship between the person looking for work and the case manager even further. (IAB)

Cite article

Kupka, P. & Osiander, C. (2017): Activation 'Made in Germany'. Welfare-to-work services under the 'Social Code II'. In: R. van Berkel, D. Caswell, P. Kupka & F. Larsen (Hrsg.) (2017): Frontline delivery of welfare-to-work policies in Europe : activating the unemployed, p. 88-106.