Bureaucracy as a hindrance

Before the special committee of the state parliament on reducing bureaucracy, the skilled trades called on politicians to finally remove bureaucratic hurdles.

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

Crafts and small and medium-sized businesses in Brandenburg have been suffering since Years under the rampant bureaucracyIt was created by a multitude of regulations that often completely ignore reality and cost businesses a lot of time and money. Special committee of the state parliament should now ensure bureaucracy reductionTherefore, representatives of the Brandenburg craft industry were recently invited to the special committee to discuss with the politicians of the state parliament and the Minister of Economic Affairs Daniel Keller, who was also present, where the companies could find a streamlining the current regulations as quickly as possible hope.

Ralph Bührig, Managing Director of Potsdam Chamber of Crafts, reported that bureaucracy is "the number one obstacle for young people" to becoming self-employed. He cited a survey of craftspeople who are training to become master craftsmen. "These people tell us: 'We don't want to sit at a desk, we want to practice our craft,'" Bührig said. This attitude is more than understandable, given that the average craft business in Brandenburg has around four employees – including the master craftsman. Although the companies are very small, the master craftsmen to fulfil significant documentation, proof and reporting obligationswhich have to be done alongside the actual work and which often take management personnel to the limits of their resilience.

More efficient procurement: Craftsmen demand reforms

Practitioners from skilled trades also had their say at the hearing. Christian Lau, master plumber and district master craftsman of the Uckermark District Crafts Association, expressed his displeasure. If you want to win a public contract, you have to fill out ten to fifteen formsFor any company that then comes up empty-handed in the contract award, this would be a wasted effort. It would be much more effective if the company that ultimately wins the contract could submit the forms later. Furthermore, the principle of always choosing the cheapest offer should be abandoned.

Lau: "It is clear beforehand that a roof batten does not cost ten cents, but ten euros – and that additional charges will then arise." At this point, master painter Sven Thielicke from Ludwigsfelde, who is also the district master craftsman of the Teltow-Fläming district crafts association, added: "The cheapest provider botches the work, and then other colleagues – like my employees – have to come and fix it." Thielicke recommends the Swiss model instead: The cheapest and most expensive providers are eliminated, and the contract is awarded to the company that comes closest to the calculated average.

Economics Minister Keller promised to to "simplify, accelerate and reduce bureaucracy" in the direct award of public contractsTo achieve this, the value thresholds will be raised. Only above these thresholds will a procurement procedure be initiated. For construction, supply, and service contracts, the limit per contract value will be increased from the current €1.000 to €100.000. 

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