Monday, January 31, 2005

Welfare Reform?

Under Germany’s welfare reforms, any woman under 55 who has been out of work for more than a year can be forced to take an available job — including in the sex industry — or lose her unemployment benefit. Last month German unemployment rose for the 11th consecutive month to 4.5 million, taking the number out of work to its highest since reunification in 1990.

The government had considered making brothels an exception on moral grounds, but decided that it would be too difficult to distinguish them from bars. As a result, job centres must treat employers looking for a prostitute in the same way as those looking for a dental nurse.

First off, a year of unemployment is pretty generous. Secondly, when you cede that much control and freedom to the government, expect the government to be pretty heavy-handed about using it. Still this is disgusting...

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