In order to contain the consequences of the crisis caused by the coronavirus pandemic, new measures are adopted almost daily in Germany. But in addition to these short-term new regulations, there are also other laws that will take effect in Germany from May 2020. The African Courier summarises the most important changes here. —— Kurzarbeit: Regulations for additional earnings by short-time …
Read More »Germany: New laws and regulations from April 2020
Usually, new laws and regulations take effect at the beginning of every month in Germany. It’s not different for April 2020 despite the corona crisis. In fact, as a result of government’s emergency relief measures against the pandemic, there’re several additional changes, ranging from new regulations protecting tenants against eviction to those governing welfare benefits as well as support grants to …
Read More »Germany: Court allows reduction in asylum-seeker’s benefits to make them leave
According to a ruling by the Osnabrück Social Court (Sozialgericht), asylum-seekers can have their cash benefits cut if they have already applied for asylum in another EU country Cities and counties may reduce cash benefits to an asylum-seeker according to a ruling by the Osnabrück Social Court if they have already applied for asylum in another country. The court in …
Read More »New laws and regulations in Germany from March 2020
March 2020 brings some changes for people living in Germany as a result of new or amended laws and regulations. Some of these changes include mandatory measles vaccination for children, introduction of repeat doctor’s prescriptions, the prohibition of speed camera warning app on your smartphone and easier immigration for skilled workers from non-EU countries, among others.
Read More »Foreign students and workers in Germany excluded from Hartz IV benefits – Supreme Court
Foreigners who are in Germany to look for work or study are excluded from Hartz IV social-security benefits, the Federal Constitutional Court (Bundesverfassungsgericht) has ruled in two cases. In the two verdicts published on Thursday (6 February), the Bundesverfassungsgericht, Germany’s highest court on constitutional matters, dismissed the ruling of the lower Social Court (Sozialgericht), which considers the legal exclusion of …
Read More »Berlin parliament approves law stopping rent increases for 5 years
Berlin’s state parliament has passed a law to freeze rent prices in the capital for five years. The legislators by their decision on Thursday (30 January) cleared the final legal hurdle to the Berlin rent cap initiative. The Senate of Berlin, the executive body governing the city that is also a federal state, had on 22 October approved the rent-freeze …
Read More »Germany: Changes in laws and regulations from February 2020
February brings some changes for people living in Germany as a result of new or amended laws and regulations. Some of these changes have an impact on the pockets of consumers. Here is an overview of the important changes from 1 February 2020, by Sola Jolaoso Cheaper BahnCard 25 and 50 As part of its “Klimapaket” (climate-protection package of policies), …
Read More »Germany: Recruitment of non-EU nurses must be fair to their countries of origin – Caritas
A new law (Skilled Worker Immigration Act or Fachkräfteeinwanderungsgesetz) that facilitates the recruitment of skilled workers from non-EU countries will enter into effect on 1 March. Germany is currently suffering from labour shortages in many sectors, including health care. Caritas has however warned that the needs of the countries where nurses would be recruited should be considered in the implementation …
Read More »N-Word: Germany’s Black community to protest against court decision allowing use of racist word
Members of the Black community in Germany will hit the streets of Cologne on Saturday, 18 January to register their protest against the controversial decision of a court that describing people of African descent as “neger” is not necessarily derogatory. The state constitutional court of Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania (Mecklenburg-Vorpommern) had ruled on 19 December that sanctioning the leader of the AfD …
Read More »New laws and regulations in Germany from January 2020
Numerous new laws and regulations take effect in Germany from 1 January 2020. These include a minimum stipend for job trainees, reduced VAT for train tickets and hygiene products for women, increases in welfare benefits, tax relief for families as well as new opportunities for the regularisation of the residency status of tolerated asylum-seekers. ———— Doctor’s appointments round the clock …
Read More »Germany: 5 very important legal changes that entered into force in 2019
These are very important amendments to laws or new regulations – affecting withdrawal of German citizenship from dual nationals, minimum wage, HIV prophylaxis etc – that entered into force in the course of 2019
Read More »German court rules against landlord who refused to rent to an African
Major victory over housing discrimination in Germany as court fines a landlord for refusing to let his apartment to an African. It’s symbolic that the verdict was delivered on 10 December, the International Human Rights Day. A court has ruled that it’s illegal for a landlord or landlady to refuse to rent a flat to a would-be tenant on account …
Read More »Germany: Changes in laws and regulations from December 2019
A few new laws and regulations come into force in Germany in December 2019. Some of the important changes affect Hartz IV recipients, fireworks, railway time-table and highway tolls for travellers to Austria. ………… More money for Hartz IV recipients Starting from next year, the standard rates for Unemployment Benefit II – better known as Hartz IV – will be …
Read More »Black People demand Equal Rights in Germany at historic congress
The historic People of African Descent (PAD) Week Germany ended on Saturday in Berlin with workshops and panel discussions on the situation of Black people in the country. Organised by Each One Teach One (EOTO) e.V., a community-based education and empowerment project, PAD Week Germany, held on 28-30 November and attended by more than 250 participants, also marked the third …
Read More »New laws and regulations in Germany from September 2019
A number of new laws and regulations – affecting online banking and payment for online transactions, appointments at the doctor’s and insurance coverage for HIV prophylaxis drugs, allowances for asylum-seekers and the cost of sending packets etc – enter into effect in the new month. The most important changes are in this overview. HEALTH New incentives for quicker appointments for …
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