In Germany, the federal government is intensifying its fight against social welfare abuse. The action plan, jointly prepared by Minister of Labor Bärbel Bas (SPD) and the Ministry of Interior, specifically targets social welfare abuse linked to EU migration. Bas gave a strong message in her statement on the matter: "We do not tolerate exploitation and social welfare abuse." The SPD minister stated that she would fight harder "with all the means at her disposal." The eight-page action plan contains 37 measures to overcome social welfare abuse.

At the beginning of July, following the coalition committee meeting, the summit of the black-red government had announced an action plan against social welfare abuse. Bas had said at the time, "Those who abuse the system must also face the consequences." Now, a catalog has been prepared together with the Ministry of Interior. The prominent points of the plan are as follows:

-Municipalities: Municipalities will be given the means to better combat so-called "dilapidated" properties.

-Employers: Responsibility will be increased for employers who rely on undeclared work.

-Those with arrest warrants: Individuals for whom an enforceable arrest warrant exists will no longer be able to receive basic security benefits.

-Data sharing: Limited data sharing between institutions, one of the biggest complaints of job center employees, will be improved. This will make it easier, for example, to detect undeclared mini-jobs.

The plan also foresees artificial intelligence helping to scan data. The document states that more cases of abuse will be detected through "safe, reliable, and non-discriminatory AI-supported analysis systems." To facilitate this, it is planned that identity numbers will also be recorded in all registers related to social welfare benefits, and municipal job centers will be obliged to share data.

Pressure on owners of dilapidated properties

It is also aimed to put an end to social welfare fraudsters charging excessive rents from the social welfare fund for neglected "dilapidated" buildings. The Building Code will be amended to allow municipal employees easier access to potentially affected buildings. New and limited expropriation possibilities will be introduced if property owners fail to modernize. Furthermore, registration law will be clarified to prevent landlords from overcrowding rooms.

Abuse in EU migration

Abuse in EU migration will also be restricted. Bas stated, "It is unacceptable to use the right to free movement to exploit people and use their hardship for organized abuse." The aim is to prevent migrants from EU countries from working very little or being registered with fake employment relationships and then claiming social welfare benefits. Laws are planned to be changed to prevent criminal structures and exploitation.