Overview
- Landrat Matthias Jendricke (SPD) began enforcing the program on Monday for beneficiaries under 25 who lack completed vocational training or dropped out.
- Participants can be assigned up to 40 hours a week in charitable workshops, municipal services, or green-space maintenance, with continued benefits plus €1.20 hourly pay.
- Officials paired the rollout with active checks and initial 10% sanctions for noncompliance, including plans for home visits if people miss 7 a.m. start times.
- The Jobcenter screened 220 candidates and invited 60 deemed least motivated; about 30 failed to attend the briefing and received sanction notices.
- Jendricke defends the measure as necessary pressure combined with support and criticizes his party’s federal record, saying results will be reviewed after three months.