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Care work

Podcast / November 04, 2025

Chris Neuffer, Kleo Becker, Halina Jordan

#2 Caregiving relatives

Between lack of recognition and labor disputes

Hand with yellow cleaning glove crushes a bouquet of flowersPart of the project: Thanks for nothing

What is the daily work routine of family caregivers like? What obstacles do they face? What needs to change so that they are less burdened and children are well cared for?

In the second episode of the second season, we speak with Halina Jordan, author, activist, and mother. Halina shares her experiences with authorities in Saxony and the difficult journey she undertook to find a suitable school place for her child with a disability. She takes us into her daily life and the immense amount of care work that arises and leads to burnout. Together, we explore the connection between this unpaid care work and trade unions, and what is needed to transform the isolated struggle for adequate care into a more collective one.

The news also covers the federal government's plans to cut benefits for care level 1 and the daycare protests in Leipzig. In the vision segment, Thùy Linh presents the network and educational platform viet.care.

Want to give us feedback? Then write to us: care@knoe.org

Show notes

News

Petition “No cuts in Leipzig’s daycare sector – for good care and education for our children!” (completed)

Deutschlandfunk Kultur: Daycare chaos: Daycare centers are closing in Saxony, there are too few places in Bremen

Correctiv: No more money for minor care cases

Taz: First-degree reduction

ZQP Foundation: Family Caregivers in Germany

Pflege.de: Care level 1: Money, benefits and requirements

Social association VdK: Abolish care level 1? – Why that's not a good idea

SoVD: Do not remove care level 1!

Interview

Halina Jordan is a sociologist, author and teacher – but above all a queer Riot Mama who is passionate about raising awareness of inclusion in feminist communities.

Website

Instagram

Sign up for Halina's newsletter here!

Vision

viet.care: Instagram

Definitions

PLegendary Arelatives Caregivers are anyone who regularly supports a close relative in need of care. This can include friends, neighbors, family members, and partners who assist with tasks such as feeding, personal hygiene, shopping, cleaning, managing finances, and structuring daily life. These activities take place not only at home but also, for example, in a nursing home. (Source: https://www.zqp.de/schwerpunkt/pflegende-angehoerige/)

Music

Rihanna: Work

Scott Holmes Music: Positive and Fun https://freemusicarchive.org/music/Scott_Holmes/

Tim Taj: Upbeat Happy https://freemusicarchive.org/music/timtaj/positive-corporate-music/upbeat-happy/

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Funded by the Heidehof Foundation, the Anstiftung Foundation, the Foundation for Human Dignity and Work, and the Saxon State Ministry of Justice and for Democracy, Europe and Equality. This project is co-financed by tax revenue based on the budget approved by the Saxon State Parliament.

However, the views and opinions expressed are solely those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect those of the Saxon State Ministry of Justice and for Democracy, Europe and Equality. The State Ministry cannot be held responsible for them.

© 2025. This work is openly licensed via CC BY-NC 4.0 DEED

Funded by