Beschäftigungsförderung für Langzeitarbeitslose – ein Beitrag zum Abbau sozialer Ungleichheiten ?

2020 and 2021 found the German labour market still quite robust, despite the Covid-19 crisis. Nevertheless, a stable proportion of long-term unemployed shows that some groups face continuous problems reintegrating into paid labour, even under the positive labour market conditions of those past years. In addition, it can be assumed that the situation on the German labour market will no longer improve, given the worldwide effects of the war in Ukraine. Against this background, criticism of the activating labour market policies installed by the Hartz-Laws in the early 2000s is still prominent. An ongoing policy debate refers to the question of whether job uptake support for the long-term jobless would better be achieved on the regular labour market or through a second, subsidised, so-called “social” labour market. The new law on labour market participation opportunities in 2019 (Teilhabechancengesetz) emphasises the latter, although it offers both options. The article investigates whether the new regulations provide better cover for disadvantaged groups than the previous instruments. Additionally, in the light of intersecting inequalities, the authors address the question of policy trends of de- or recommodification of labour.