The wealthy should not be rewarded for part-time work

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Everyone should be free to decide whether they want less work and more free time. “I think that’s important,” emphasizes GLP council member Katja Christ (50). She does not want to offend anyone about part-time work.

But: the general public should not pay for the fact that someone does not want to do paid work five days a week. That is why the Basel Green Liberals are submitting a proposal to the National Council, which is supported by the Junge GLP: Anyone who voluntarily opts for a workload of 60 or 80 percent and thus accepts a pay cut may no longer receive a premium discount.

Big differences

For Christ, it is crucial that premium discounts from health insurers benefit those who really need them. Those who have such a modest income that they cannot pay their healthcare premium independently must receive help from the state. These can be low-earners with a full-time job, but also people for whom a full-time job is not reasonable or not possible.

Today, the cantons have free rein in shaping the premium discounts. The amount of the reductions also differs according to the canton in which you live. In addition, an application for a premium reduction must be submitted in one canton, while in the other canton, the payment is made automatically if certain income and assets are not reached.

“Wrong incentives”

For example, it happens that single people with a good income suddenly enjoy a premium discount after a reduction in workload or because of a tax-deductible investment.

From Katja Christ’s point of view, false incentives are given. Basel-Stadt sees it that way too. Your canton therefore calculates a hypothetical income if people work less than seems reasonable in general.

“More targeted payout”

With her initiative to reduce premiums, the GLP politician wants to stimulate a national system change. The Bundesrat should analyze the feasibility and effect of a solution similar to the one in Basel.

The parliamentarian also wants to know whether it is practical to distinguish between those part-time workers who, for example, cannot take on a full-time job because of childcare, and those who work less voluntarily.

Christ also asks about the savings potential of a system change. But it is not primarily about saving: “However, for me it is mainly about using the available money, more specifically through the cutbacks”, emphasizes the Green Liberals.

Source:Blick