Quote:
Canada has similar unemployment insurance as well. But you have to have paid into for at least some time in order to get it. And the duration is limited as well. The details vary according to the job situation in your area and they will send you info on jobs and you have to show up for interviews of they will cut you off.
The max you can get is about 350 Euros per week.
|
It seems to be that the welfare systems in different countries are very similiar. In Germany there are 2 different benefits, too. ALG 1 and ALG 2
You get ALG 1 if you lost your job, that's around 60% of your last salary, but calculation is very complicated. But you get it only if you worked for 12 month, than you get ALG 1 for 6 month, after that you get ALG 2. If you worked at least 24 month than you get ALG 1 for 12 month. If you are older than 50 years, than you can get ALG1 for up to 24 month. After that you will always get ALG 2.
We don't have one general minimum wage. We will get one next year, 8.50 Euro. I am principally against a general minimum wage. I hope the amount of 8,50 Euro per hour will not cost to many jobs. Until now the trade unions and the employers have negotiated several contracts about minimum wages for a lot of different sectors in different regions. In some regions in east Germany, minimum wage in some sectors are very low. As far as I know a hairdresser in some parts of east Germany get less than 5 Euro per hour. Those very low wages will be increased by tha ALG 2 system, but I don't know how it works an how much it is. The coming minimum wage of 8,50 Euro must be also increased by ALG 2. At least the News report this, I am not sure whether this is true.
If you get 8.50 Euro per hour, then you get 1,275 Euro per month (150 hours). By using a gross/net calculator this will be the net annually income:
Gross income: 15,300 Euro
Income tax: 560 Euro
Pension insurance: 1,446 Euro
Unemployment insurance: 230 Euro
Health insurance: 1,255 Euro
Nursing care insurance: 195 Euro
Net income: 11,615 Euro or 968 Euro / month
Considering the cost for the rent, it doesn't make that much sense to work. A lot of people will say, I stay at home and take the unemployment benefits. Therefore your income will probably increased by ALG 2 or you will get Wohngeld (benefits for your rent).
Brutto Netto Rechner 2014 2013 Gehaltsrechner 2014 2013 Lohnrechner 2014 2013 Gehalt
In my opinion the unemployment benefits are ok in Germany. But the situation of the working poor is in need of improvement.
There are at least 3 different VAT rates: 19% for most things. 7% for food, flowers, newspapers, magazins, and some other things. 0% for rent, hotels (not sure) and some other strange things.
The german VAT legislation is weird. The tube for mustard is taxed by 7%, of course it's the package of food. But is the mustard packed in a glass than this glass will be taxed by 19%, because you could use the glass for drinking purposes or as a vase. For the customer there will be no difference, but the manufacturer of the mustard has to pay attention to those weird tax legislation.
Please register to participate in our discussions with 2 million other members - it's free and quick! Some forums can only be seen by registered members. After you create your account, you'll be able to customize options and access all our 15,000 new posts/day with fewer ads.
