The claim

The text in the screenshot criticizes the fact that Agriculture Minister Klöckner has “officially admitted” that more money is available to asylum seekers than to German pensioners.

Our conclusion

The comparison was taken out of context. The benefits to the additional earnings limit for asylum seekers and pensioners are unrelated. In addition, Julia Klöckner is currently no longer Minister of Agriculture.

A screenshot of this statement by Julia Klöckner has been circulating for a long time and was shared via WhatsApp, in which her alleged statements were recorded:

Alleged statement by Julia Klöckner regarding the additional earnings limit for asylum seekers / Screenshot WhatsApp

“There was just a report on ZDF with the Minister of Agriculture! It was about harvest workers and now please sit down! Pensioners and low earners can earn something extra!!!!!! When asked whether one could accept asylum seekers, the answer was: for asylum seekers the additional income is unattractive because it is then deducted! So she officially admitted that the asylum seekers have more than 1100 euros a month and our pensioners have about 600 euros! Please sharing SUCKS” (sic!)

It was also added that the post was blocked “on the internet” after 10 minutes, which is supposed to suggest that such “findings” are not welcomed on the internet. – Or are simply wrong.

The facts

This screenshot has been circulating for a long time and is now being shared again more and more. We already reported on this in April 2020: HERE
Nobody seems to be bothered by the fact that Julia Klöckner has no longer been Minister of Agriculture since December 2021, but that the ministry is currently headed Cem Özdemir

What is true is that reported on the topic On April 1st, Julia Klöckner was on the ARD-Morgenschau for an interview. And this is what the “quote” refers to. ( Unfortunately video is no longer available )
Here Klöckner explained that the additional earnings limit for short-time workers and pensioners should be raised in order to make working as a harvest helper more attractive. When the moderator asked whether asylum seekers could also be used for the harvest, Klöckner replied that there were many asylum seekers, with and without work permits. “For those who have a work permit, the additional earnings limit is of course very unattractive, which is then deducted, and this is where we have to get to it […]”

No concrete figures were mentioned in the conversation, nor was Klöckner saying that asylum seekers are given more money, but simply that there is a difference in the additional income limits, which were lower for asylum seekers.
Our colleagues from Correctiv asked the BMEL in 2020 and received the following information in response:

“The claims made in the message in question regarding statements made by Federal Minister Klöckner are false and have no basis whatsoever.”

“The Federal Minister’s answer to a later question from the moderator about the use of asylum seekers in agriculture has no direct connection to this. There she noted that the additional earnings limit was unattractive for those asylum seekers who have a work permit. A direct connection between pensioners and asylum seekers was never established in this interview, and there was never a statement about the sums specifically mentioned in the message.”

Source: Corrective

Conclusion

Mimikama Rating: LACK OF CONTEXT

The WhatsApp message is a false claim.

The comparison was taken out of context. The benefits to the additional earnings limit for asylum seekers and pensioners are unrelated.

Apart from that, the screenshot refers to measures during the 2020 corona pandemic. Klöckner has no longer worked as Minister of Agriculture since December 2021.

You might also be interested in: “Offer ravioli to the other person” – not a Baerbock quote!

Source: Correctiv , press portal – dpa


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Notes:
1) This content reflects the current state of affairs at the time of publication. The reproduction of individual images, screenshots, embeds or video sequences serves to discuss the topic. 2) Individual contributions were created through the use of machine assistance and were carefully checked by the Mimikama editorial team before publication. ( Reason )