Trade associations criticize the bureaucracy reduction law

According to the ZDH, various trade associations in the skilled trades also criticise what they consider to be the slow pace of bureaucracy reduction.

This article is part of the special feature on bureaucratic madness in the skilled trades.

Following the Bundestag 's resolution on the fourth Bureaucracy Relief Act (BEG IV), after the German Confederation of Skilled Crafts (ZDH), the trade associations are now also speaking out. The Central Association of the German Baking Trade is similarly disappointed to the ZDH: "The fourth Bureaucracy Relief Act passed today by the coalition government is a step in the right direction, but falls short of what is necessary . Further decisive steps to reduce bureaucracy must follow," the association stated.

BEG IV Read more about the Fourth Bureaucracy Relief Act here . "The coalition's promise to reduce unnecessary bureaucracy was a bold move, landing like a doormat. This law can only be the start of further measures to reduce bureaucracy. Now, more decisive steps must follow to provide tangible relief for small and medium-sized enterprises," says Managing Director Dr. Friedemann Berg . He welcomes the fact that the law incorporates several proposals from the bakers' association, such as the demand to provide lists of ingredients used in production digitally instead of on paper , and to allow employment contracts to be concluded via email.

Stop further burdens

However, another opportunity has been missed to implement far-reaching relief measures that would noticeably reduce the burden on small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in their day-to-day operations . Many proposals for further relief from the central association and other business associations, such as reducing documentation requirements, have not been considered. SMEs can no longer cope with the burdens associated with bureaucracy. Berg: "Time is of the essence, because bureaucracy is paralyzing SMEs and threatening many small and medium-sized craft businesses."

Bureaucratic burdens are increasingly stifling entrepreneurial spirit in Germany. This weakens the country's economic competitiveness . "The coalition still has enough time to prepare another package of bureaucratic relief. And everything should be done to prevent the creation of new, additional bureaucracy. Legislative proposals and regulations that bring further burdens, such as the law on advertising food to children , the supply chain due diligence law , the EU deforestation regulation , or the introduction of further reporting obligations, must be stopped immediately ."

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Reducing bureaucracy at a snail's pace

The German Association of Motor Trades and Repairs (ZDK) also declares that the fourth phase of the BEG (Economic Improvement Act) falls far short of expectations . "The creation of bureaucracy is being accelerated by the many new regulations, while its reduction is proceeding at a snail's pace ," says ZDK President Arne Joswig . "Larger medium-sized companies are facing the next bureaucratic tsunami with sustainability reporting , but in Berlin, the main relief is seen in the abolition of paperwork requirements. This is completely out of touch with reality ."

Real relief would have come from implementing the ZDK's list of demands for reducing bureaucracy. "But this, like the many other submissions from the trades and industry, was apparently ignored. As a result, the air is getting thinner and thinner for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), even though the situation is already far too over." Politicians must make improvements as quickly as possible and introduce a fifth bureaucracy reduction law during this legislative period, one that incorporates the many proposals from the business community and provides tangible relief to people in businesses and companies across our country.

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