The German government plans to tighten rules for recipients of welfare benefits, including by stiffening penalties for those who don’t pursue work, under a plan approved by the Cabinet on Wednesday. Under the reforms, anyone who refuses a reasonable job, training scheme or other employment measure without a valid reason will in future face an immediate 30% reduction in basic income support for three months. Anyone who fails to attend appointments at the government job centre without good reason will also receive a 30% reduction in benefits for one month, instead of the previous 10% penalty. Ge…