Painters and varnishers demand reduction of bureaucracy

The painting and decorating trade is criticizing the plans for the Bureaucracy Reduction Act IV, arguing that the law bypasses SMEs. In a letter to members of the Bundestag, the state parliaments, and the European Parliament, it is now calling for the "reduction of senseless bureaucracy."

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

The Federal Association for Paint, Design and Building Protection protests against the ever-increasing bureaucratic burden for the companies. In view of the increasing bureaucratization with excessive reporting obligations, growing regulatory depth and senseless procedures, the willingness to be self-employed and entrepreneurial in the craft sector is declining. dramatically back. That is why the painting and varnishing trade has now Letter to the Members of Parliament des Bundestag, the state parliaments and the European Parliament turned.

The letter calls for "more planning and the reduction of senseless bureaucracy". Many companies are becoming increasingly dissatisfied. "The almost 40.000 companies in the painting and varnishing trade have the impression that their corporate responsibility is undervalued and they would increasingly General suspicion "The association says that this will not change the Federal Ministry of Justice submitted draft for the Bureaucracy Reduction Act IV few.

Implement a burden moratorium

The measures provided for in the law were passed on to the small and medium-sized enterprises (SME): "The excessive reporting and documentation requirements have not been addressed. On the contrary: The planned requirements for sustainability reporting will Overburden companies and endanger corporate financing." The association cites a survey of master craftsmen's schools, according to which only around 30 percent of prospective master craftsmen want to start or take over a business. Ten years ago, 80 percent were willing to do so.

Anyone who runs a company with ten or more employees today spend most of my time in the officeThe painters and varnishers are therefore demanding the implementation of the already agreed burden moratorium and one binding SME test for new laws at the German and European level. A negative example is the German Supply Chain Due Diligence ActThis has led to large customers transferring their due diligence obligations to medium-sized craft businesses.

Overregulation in all areas

"Companies with over 1.000 employees are playing it safe in view of the unclear definitions of supply chains in the law and are demanding that craft businesses complete extensive evidence listsThis creates a Collateral damage, which the legislator never had in mind." The association therefore advocates for a "general exception from German craft enterprises from all direct and indirect obligations" that the law brings with it.

Meanwhile, a Overregulation in all areas of reporting and evidence requirements "This affects those companies that have been caught up in the mill of reporting obligations for quarterly and annual statistics." Often not recognizable, which uses the counting of sales, productive hours, number of employees, investments, and wages. The Painters and Decorators Association demands: "When collecting statistical data, the following must apply: Existing administrative data must be used first; data protection concerns must not prevent the exchange between authorities."

"Crafts need more reliability"

Relief could be provided by Digitization of administration However, it is still far from advanced enough. One thing is certain: "The trades need less bureaucracy and more reliability." The back and forth about the Building Energy Act has shown that planning uncertainty leads directly to investment reluctance. "This law does nothing for painters and varnishers. unilateral fixation on heating technology, at the expense of investments in the building envelope, is short-sighted, technically nonsensical and inefficient."

DHB now also digital!Simply click here and register for the digital German Crafts Journal (DHB)!