NRW FDP wants to free the craft sector from bureaucracy

The North Rhine-Westphalia FDP parliamentary group is launching an initiative to reduce bureaucracy and tax burdens for craft businesses and is presenting a ten-point program to this end.

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

The FDP parliamentary group in the North Rhine-Westphalian state parliament has a new one Application initiative started to Burdens of bureaucracy and taxes for craft businesses. The aim is to promote entrepreneurial spirit in the craft sector and combat the shortage of skilled workers.

"The growing shortage of skilled workers and high bureaucratic burdens in North Rhine-Westphalia pose a challenge for the numerous craft businesses significant challenges without which the Competitiveness and future viability the North Rhine-Westphalian economy, which is in the midst of transformation, is at risk," says the parliamentary group's motion.

Fewer business start-ups

Bureaucracy and staff shortages reinforced each other and inhibited the entrepreneurial spirit in the craft sector"Crafts are North Rhine-Westphalia's economic multi-tool, they create jobs and secure our prosperity. However, increasing bureaucracy threatens to paralyze the craft sector and scare away young entrepreneurs," explains Dietmar Brockes, economic policy spokesman for the parliamentary group.

According to a recent survey in the Düsseldorf Chamber of Commerce, less than every second young master starts a businessFor more than half, the bureaucratic burden is the reason for not becoming self-employed. "Last year, the Chambers of Crafts in NRW reported a significant decline in new business start-ups – a trend that has continued for several years."

This is what the FDP demands:

1. A burden moratorium for the entire legislative period for crafts, small and medium-sized businesses and industry.
2. A state-specific bureaucracy reduction law is passed annually to automate bureaucracy reduction and address the bureaucracy relief for micro and small businesses.
3. Exploiting the potential for accelerating planning and approval procedures at the state level with an annual progress report.
4. The aim of the Sustainability Reporting Directive is to ensure that indirect reporting and documentation obligations are as cost-effective and bureaucratic as possible.
5. Gradual reduction of the real estate transfer tax to 3,5 percent to encourage and reduce the cost of acquiring commercial land and real estate for business takeovers and new businesses.
6. An unbureaucratic area-based model for property tax.
7. Reduction of the personal contribution to course and examination fees for masters to promote equal funding of academic and vocational education.
8. Consolidation and digitalization of master craftsman funding.
9. Introduction of a legal right to digital administrative services and the once-only principle as of January 1, 2025.
10. The introduction of a compulsory internship in a training occupation in secondary school classes so that students can gain experience in a craft, skilled work or other training occupations.

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