Reintroduction of the master craftsman requirement on the way

The draft bill to reintroduce the master craftsman qualification requirement for twelve skilled trades will be presented for its first reading in the Bundestag today. The skilled trades are receiving high praise, calling it a strong signal for quality and qualification.

"We are pleased and see it as a strong signal for quality and qualification in the skilled trades that the draft law on the reintroduction of the master craftsman requirement has been put on the parliamentary path with today's first reading," said Hans Peter Wollseifer , President of the Central Association of German Skilled Crafts (ZDH), on the occasion of the first reading of the draft law on the reintroduction of the master craftsman requirement for twelve skilled trades in the German Bundestag.

The master craftsman's certificate strengthens competition, provides consumers and warranty protection for customers, and, through the training of young people, ensures professional qualifications and thus the continuation of quality into the future, says the president of the skilled trades association. Photo: © wektorygrafika/123RF.com

"This shows that the coalition is serious about its commitment to the master craftsman qualification." Strengthening the master craftsman qualification is a crucial step in ensuring the future of high-quality, sustainable trades that support training and business success. The master craftsman's certificate lays the foundation for sustainable entrepreneurship and guarantees high product quality and excellent training . "It serves as a safeguard in hazardous professions and thus significantly contributes to consumer protection. Strengthening the master craftsman's certificate means making the trades fit for the future."

Correct any recognizable negative developments

When it comes to the future viability of our country, Wollseifer argues that there is no way around skilled trades: the energy transition and climate protection, electromobility or smart homes, housing and infrastructure development – ​​all of this requires people who understand their craft . It is therefore all the more important that masterful skills and expertise are preserved and passed on to future generations . It is commendable that politicians are now taking steps to correct the obvious mistakes of past decisions and to take the right steps to counteract these developments.

Since the 2004 amendment, significantly fewer people have earned their master craftsman's certificate in some trades, and the number of apprentices trained has declined in others, exacerbating the skilled worker shortage over the years. According to the president of the German Confederation of Skilled Crafts (ZDH), a lack of qualifications often leads to lower quality. "Furthermore, there has been demonstrable evidence of businesses disappearing from the market more quickly, resulting in reduced warranty and consumer protection . The master craftsman's certificate was and remains the guarantee for the future of the training and qualification system, and thus also for skilled workers in the trades."

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Quote: "Because it has become clear in recent years that not everyone can simply become a skilled trade overnight..." ( Hans Peter Wollseifer, President of the German Confederation of Skilled Crafts and Trades ) The reintroduction of the master craftsman's certificate is also a clear commitment to the value of vocational training and the globally respected dual training system. "Because it has become clear in recent years that not everyone can simply become a skilled trade overnight, but that high-quality training is required." The master craftsman's certificate strengthens competition. It provides customers with consumer and warranty protection and, through the training of young people, ensures professional qualification and thus the continuation of quality into the future.

"We therefore need the master craftsman qualification as proof of craftsmanship and as a guarantee of quality, as well as for consumer and cultural heritage protection. We also need new generations of master craftsmen to train apprentices and thus ensure that skilled workers with sound craft expertise will continue to be available in the future. The master craftsman qualification is both a benefit to society as a whole and an economic advantage ."