The bakery trade demands: "Tackle bureaucracy reduction now"

The Central Association of the German Bakers' Trade is calling on the federal government to implement the promised fourth Bureaucracy Reduction Act. The association reiterates its proposals for a new law presented in autumn 2020.

This article is part of the special topic Bureaucratic madness in the craft industry

The bakery trade hopes that the Federal government the announced Bureaucracy Reduction Act IV "The bureaucratic burden for small and medium-sized enterprises has reached a level in recent years that can no longer be managed and for many companies even existence-threatening works," explains Michael Wippler, President of the Central Association of the German Bakery Trade.

Michael Wippler Photo: © Central Association of the German Bakery Trade / Darius Ramazani

The previous bureaucracy law had "no noticeable relief for small and medium-sized businesses". On the contrary, it has now reached the point where companies are forced to give up or fail to find a successor, said the association. Wippler: "The entrepreneurial spirit in this country is steadily decreasing, and that weakens Germany as a business location."

Dissatisfaction among companies

There is "enormous discontent" in the industry, says Daniel Schneider, General Manager of the Bakers' Association. Therefore, a fourth relief law is needed. The bakers' trade had already called for this in autumn 2020. 48 suggestions put on the table. They should be taken into account.

Schneider is disappointed: "The grand coalition has promised the German economy that the law still in this legislative period To date, the Minister of Economic Affairs Peter Altmaier but not even a draft has been submitted." Also due to the current corona burdens time is pressing. It places an enormous burden on businesses.

Moratorium on burdens demanded

Daniel Schneider Photo: © ZV Bäckerhandwerk

According to the Bakers’ Association, in order to cope with the consequences of the crisis, they need short and long term an economic environment that places as little strain as possible and enables a rapid recovery. "We therefore urgently need a Burden moratorium for the duration of the Corona crisis and the time after, so that the companies can breathe again and Scope for investment get it," demands Schneider.

Bureaucratically excessive obligations, such as numerous documentation requirements or the obligation to issue receipts, should be suspended at least for the duration of the Corona crisis. exposed and thus provide companies with urgently needed relief The association says there are plenty of suggestions for reducing bureaucracy: Regulatory Control Council of Baden-Württemberg had recently submitted recommendations, as had the Bakers’ Association.

Suggestions for reducing bureaucracy:

• Make statistical obligations more efficient and less burdensome.
• In order to facilitate business succession, the protection of existing rights should be extended in the short term.
• For SMEs, exceptions should be made to the labelling requirements for baked goods in specialty stores and special regulations for self-service packaging should be abolished.
• A small business clause should be reintroduced in the risk assessment in occupational health and safety.
• The obligation to appoint a data protection officer, which is not required under European law, should be deleted.
• The permissible working hours in the production of baked goods on Sundays and public holidays should be extended to eight hours.
• The earnings limit for mini-jobbers should be raised quickly and in the short term.

Source: Central Association of the German Bakery Trade