Factsheet for measure
DE-2020-13/1269
–
Updated
– measures in Germany
Social Protection Acts I, II and III
Sozialschutz-Pakete 1, 2 und 3
Background information
Against the background of the COVID-19 outbreak, the Federal Government has issued two so-called Social Protection Acts in spring and summer 2020. The first Social Protection Act came into effect on 27 March 2020, the second act took effect on 28 May 2020. Both acts provide the legal basis for many German measures already included in this database. Single measures included in these two packages run different timelines, therefore an end-date was not included in this entry. However, all measures are meant to be temporary to deal with the negative impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Content of measure
The Social Protection Act I and II serve as a legal umbrella for many measures that are already included in the COVID-19 EU policy watch database. The Social Protection Act I lays the basis for the following changes:
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easier access to short-time work. See case
DE-2020-10/541
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easier access to the basic income support scheme. See case
DE-2020-13/404
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easier access to the parental allowance. See case
DE-2020-10/869
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longer working period for seasonal worker and marginal employees
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continued support for care providers
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improved rules for working after entering retirement
The Social Protection Act II followed in May 2020 and added some needed changes, such as:
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improved conditions for the short-time working scheme
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longer periods for receiving the unemployment benefit I
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improved rules for the Social Care Provider Act. See case
DE-2020-13/1262
Updates
The following updates to this measure have been made after it came into effect.
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23 February 2022
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Due to the continuous effects of the pandemic, the Federal government extended the measures of the Social Protection Act III until 31 December 2022
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20 December 2021
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Due to the ongoing negative impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, measures were prolonged until the end of March 2022.
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10 March 2021
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The Social Protection Act III was introduced in March 2021, and includes: the prolongation of basic income schemes, the extension of special rules regarding lunch provision in schools, nursing facilities and workshops for people with disabilities as well as the extension of the Social Care Provider Act. Furthermore, the Federal Government will provide the programme Restart Culture (Neustart Kultur) with an additional €1 billion to protect artists. Additionally, people eligible for unemployment benefit II and SGB II will receive a one-off payment of €150 in May 2021. Newly added are 10 free FFP2 masks for people eligible according to SGB II as well as a €150 child bonus and a €350 digitalisation grant for low-income families to support home schooling.
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Use of measure
See single measure entries for use of measures.
Target groups
Actors and funding
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Actors
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Funding
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National government
Company / Companies
Other social actors (e.g. NGOs)
Local / regional government
Public employment service
Social insurance
Public support service providers
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National funds
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Social partners
Social partners' role in
designing the measure
and form of involvement:
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Trade unions
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Employers' organisations
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Role
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Consulted
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Consulted
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Form
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Any other form of consultation, institutionalised (as stable working groups or committees) or informal
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Any other form of consultation, institutionalised (as stable working groups or committees) or informal
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Social partners' role in the
implementation, monitoring and assessment phase:
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No involvement
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Main level of involvement: Peak or cross-sectoral level
Involvement
Though no formal tripartite social dialogue structure exists in Germany at the national level, social partners are usually heard on major legislation pieces or other regulations related to social and labour market issues.
Views and reactions
See single measures.
Sources
