The state parliament in Saxony adopts an action plan for skilled trades.

The action plan for skilled trades comprises 16 measures in the areas of career guidance, training, master craftsman qualification, and reducing bureaucracy. The Saxon Chamber of Skilled Crafts hopes for a swift implementation of the package.

The Saxon state parliament has adopted the action plan for skilled trades, which was introduced by the CDU, SPD, and Green Party parliamentary groups. The plan contains 16 measures to strengthen the skilled trades sector. These include increasing the master craftsman bonus from €2.000 to €3.000, expanding career guidance services, and introducing an initiative for a voluntary year of service in the skilled trades.

"Without skilled trades, we would have no functioning society. Skilled trades are indispensable for key future tasks such as the energy transition, housing construction, digitalization, and infrastructure," emphasizes Minister of Economic Affairs Dirk Panter (SPD). Together with industry, small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), and start-ups, skilled trades ensure that Saxony remains innovative and economically strong. Skilled trades are a central component of the Saxon economy.

Strengthening the training infrastructure

A key focus of the action plan is strengthening the training infrastructure. A binding investment initiative for inter-company training centers will be financed through the Saxony Fund. "Digitalization, new materials, energy efficiency: those who want to train the skilled workers of tomorrow must invest today," says Panter.

The attractiveness of vocational training is also to be increased. The increase in the master craftsman bonus to €3.000 is an important component of this: "Master craftsmen and women are indispensable for the Saxon economy. They found or take over businesses, create jobs, and secure the future of skilled workers through dual vocational training," said Panter. 

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Further steps to relieve the burden on businesses

The minister announced further steps to relieve the burden on businesses. "Craft businesses spend too much time on forms. We will therefore consistently continue modernization, digitalization, and deregulation – for example, through the once-only principle and fewer reporting requirements." Citizens and businesses would then only have to submit their data once.

16 measures

1. Investment initiative via the Saxony Fund, taking into account the funding requirements of the law on financing infrastructure investments by states and municipalities and the Saxony Fund Act, in order to strengthen the training infrastructure in the skilled trades,
2. nationwide investment plan that will lead to the modernization, expansion and technical upgrading of vocational training facilities by 2030, 
3. Pool funds from the Saxony Fund, the Chambers of Skilled Crafts' own funds and, if applicable, other funds such as federal or state funds, on the basis of the applicable funding regulations and coordinate their use.
4. Surveys of needs among students, school authorities and chambers of commerce will examine and demonstrate what housing needs exist for vocational training in the skilled trades in Saxony and to what extent funds from the "Young Living" program, with a focus on trainees, can be used to meet these needs.
5. The results of the evaluation of the partial school network plan for vocational schools in the Free State of Saxony and the updating of this partial school network plan, as well as the infrastructural needs of vocational education, should be taken into account in the planning of resources.
6. Ensure simple, transparent and expeditious procedures for planning, application, approval, disbursement of funds and verification of the use of funds provided via the Saxony Fund,
7. to inform the state parliament about the status of investment planning, allocation of funds and implementation, and to submit an annual report on this matter from 2027 to 2032.
8. to increase the master craftsman bonus for all master craftsman qualifications successfully completed from 2026 onwards to 3.000 euros and to ensure simple, transparent and rapid implementation,
9. Establish a specialist working group with the participation of chambers of commerce and trade unions as organizations of the economic and social partners, which will develop a sustainable procedure for the future for the low-bureaucracy design of the Free State's cost-sharing in master craftsman training in Saxony,
10. to advocate for equal rights for vocational and academic education vis-à-vis the federal government,
11. to enable the continuation of already successfully established career guidance services in the skilled trades, such as practical advisors, potential analysis procedures, and workshop days, according to needs and budgetary situation, and to examine to what extent suitable career guidance measures in the skilled trades can be further developed and made permanent,
12. to advocate to the federal government and to support corresponding initiatives in the Federal Council for the possibility of a voluntary year in the skilled trades,
13. to support companies in recruiting and retaining skilled workers, particularly in shortage occupations with high demand for skilled workers, as well as in the international recruitment and integration of skilled workers,
14. to review the measures in the areas of career guidance and recruitment of skilled workers within the framework of an annual event with the chambers of crafts;
15. Continue efforts towards modernization, digitalization and deregulation, also with a view to the skilled trades, and examine to what extent skilled trades businesses can be relieved of statistical reporting obligations according to the once-only principle.
16. Support small and medium-sized craft businesses in coordination with the chambers of crafts in the implementation of an IT security initiative.

Important impetus for the skilled trades in Saxony

Panter announces his intention to implement the action plan despite the tight budget situation. The skilled trades sector in Saxony welcomes this. The action plan for skilled trades is an important impetus for the sector in Saxony, explains Andreas Brzezinski, spokesperson for the managing directors of the Saxon Chamber of Skilled Crafts . "Our aim was to combine a wide range of measures into a comprehensive concept."

Now it's crucial to implement these points promptly, with minimal bureaucracy, and pragmatically. Brzezinski: "The economic data shows the immense pressure companies are under. They urgently need relief from bureaucracy that will have a tangible impact on their businesses. In the medium term, around 19.000 companies in the Free State of Saxony are due for a change of ownership. Strengthening master craftsman training will help to find the founders and successors of tomorrow."

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