Crafts President urgently calls for reforms for the economy!

Jörg Dittrich, President of the Central Association of German Crafts (ZDH), commented on the coalition negotiations between the Union and the SPD in a recent interview. Dittrich calls for more competitive taxes and social security contributions to be introduced for the economy. He describes the current mood in the industry as tense and irritable, a feeling he has never experienced in his 35 years of work. He is also critical of the backlog of reforms and the traffic light coalition's lack of recognition of the dramatic economic situation.

In an incendiary letter, Dittrich contacted prime ministers to draw attention to the urgency of changes in the labor market and the social system. He sees the SPD's reaction to its worst election result with old recipes as particularly problematic, as the needs of the trades are ignored. An increased income tax would place a particularly heavy burden on the many partnerships in the craft sector. Dittrich also expresses concerns that the planned 500 billion euros for infrastructure will not necessarily lead to more private investment if the general conditions do not improve.

Demands for reducing bureaucracy

Dittrich notes that craft services have become more expensive, leading to a decline in demand. He appeals to the new coalition to formulate concrete goals for reducing bureaucracy and calls for a reduction in social security contributions from 42% to 40%. In addition, he raises the possibility of canceling a public holiday in order to generate financial resources and send a common signal of effort in the economy.