Welfare organizations in Hamm fear that they will have to cut social offers in the future. Due to inflation and tariff increases, their costs have risen sharply – without refinancing. Now they have written a fire letter.
Hamm – Will daycare centers in Hamm have to close in the future? That’s what charities fear. You wrote a letter to the mayor, local, state and federal politicians. It states that the financing of the social sector is no longer secured. As a result, this means “that free welfare will no longer be able to fully maintain the previous offers of the social sector and make them available to society” – i.e. the operation of daycare centers, the open all-day school (OGS), from care and counseling services.
The Arbeitsgemeinschaft (AG) Wohlfahrt includes Caritas, the German Red Cross and Arbeiterwohlfahrt. The AG sent the letter at the end of July. Since then, there have been individual talks with politicians, but no new plan for funding – so the carriers continue to sound the alarm.
Financing of daycare centers not secured: personnel costs increase by 12 percent – the state only pays 3 percent more
Take a day-care center as an example: the collective wage agreement in the public sector gives staff twelve percent more when salary increases and one-off payments are taken into account. But the country only pays three percent more. “That in no way compensates for the concluded collective agreement,” says Stefanie Göckler, DRK managing director and spokeswoman for the AG.
Insolvency can and will eventually result.
The DRK in Hamm itself operates nine kindergartens. Göckler sees little opportunity to change the situation independently: it cannot increase parental contributions, which are determined by the city. It cannot pay the employees below the collective bargaining agreement, “and we don’t want that at all, we think that the employees have earned every euro,” says Göckler. Deploying fewer staff is also not possible, the staff ratio is stipulated by law. And reserves? Doesn’t have the DRC. Like other independent sponsors, it is non-profit and is not allowed to build up large reserves. “We can’t endure this indefinitely,” says Göckler. “Insolvency can and will be the result at some point.” Treasurer Markus Kreuz had already drawn attention to the high additional costs resulting from the collective bargaining agreement.
Operators of all-day offers at schools: Will have to cancel time with the child
Carriers with different social offers describe similar problems. Elmar Marx, head of the Caritas Association, warns that the country will have to pay more for care. Heiko Sachtleber works for Arbeiterwohlfahrt, which operates 19 of the 27 OGS in Hamm. Unlike in day-care centers, the personnel key is not stipulated as binding there. “Ultimately, the lack of refinancing would have to lead to a reduction in the time employees spend with the child – and that’s not in our interest at all.”
In their fire letter, the sponsors call on the city to ensure adequate funding – for example by putting pressure on the state.
Concern: Difficult financial situation in the city – what is the money for?
In view of municipal finances, it hardly seems possible for the city to bear the cost increases. There is already concern that Hamm could slip into budget security as a result of the ongoing crises. “It is logical that it is important to us that the social organizations can continue their work,” says Angela Kettner, Chairwoman of the Committee for Family, Children and Youth Welfare, also with a view to the shortage of skilled workers. “No employer will find an employee if she cannot look after her children.”
Especially in view of the difficult financial situation, there is an urgent need for a debate in Hamm about what exactly can still be afforded in the future. “We have to think about whether we accept more potholes,” she says – and that more money is left for the social sector.
2023-09-05 06:56:17
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