Chancellor Friedrich Merz (CDU) has clarified his reform plans for minijobs during the ZDF talk show "Maybrit Illner." He emphasized that the government must make a distinction: while minijobs should remain possible for pupils, students, and retirees, he does not want to allow people—predominantly women—to work exclusively on a minijob basis throughout their entire professional lives, thereby failing to build up adequate retirement provision. The coalition had previously presented its reforms regarding income tax, pensions, and the labor market, but an agreement on the future of minijobs has not yet been reached.