German lawmakers have agreed a welfare reform to raise unemployment benefit payments and help train people who are out of work, with a view to addressing a skills shortage in Europe's largest economy.
The reform is less ambitious than a landmark measure originally planned by the left-leaning government, which the conservative opposition blocked it in the upper house last week.
Below are some key points on the revised Buergergeld, or "citizens' money", which will replace the Hartz IV system introduced from 2005.
