Crafts president doubts government's reliability

Is the new coalition leading to a change in mood in Germany? The skilled trades industry doesn't see this happening. Quite the opposite.

Jörg Dittrich, President of the German Skilled Crafts Association, criticizes the federal government 's course and casts doubt on the reliability of the coalition government. The President of the Central Association of German Skilled Crafts speaks of a loss of trust in light of the "broken promise" to reduce electricity taxes. "When a clear promise is simply withdrawn and announced without any prior warning or involvement of the affected groups, it creates frustration," Dittrich told the German Press Agency. "Trust cannot be switched on and off like a light. It is created by reliability. And that is currently lacking."

The coalition agreement is ambitious in many areas, said Dittrich. However, its implementation will be interrupted by the summer recess. This is unfortunate because this recess comes at a time when many people are longing for change. "Instead, the actions of the new government are causing the first signs of disillusionment."

On the one hand, there are concrete, easily implementable points in the coalition agreement – such as the abolition of the mandatory receipt system and expanded Sunday and holiday working hours for bakeries. "This hasn't been implemented," said the president of the skilled trades association. "On the other hand, the electricity tax reduction initially promised for everyone hasn't materialized. Instead, this reduction remains only for industry, the manufacturing sector, and now supplemented by agriculture and forestry. This is arbitrary."

The disappointment is immense. "And that will stay with us throughout the summer." The significant positive shift in sentiment predicted by the government until the summer break has not yet materialized in the skilled trades.

In the coalition agreement, the CDU , CSU and SPD announced a reduction in electricity tax for everyone to the EU minimum, albeit subject to financing.

The federal government's decision on the electricity tax has left many businesses perplexed, said Dittrich. "They're naturally asking themselves about the value of political and even written commitments. If everything promised now only applies conditionally, what are they supposed to plan for? Does this also apply to the mandatory receipt system or flexible working hours? Or should they always expect the government to back out of its promises by saying: 'It's not possible right now.'"

Rising social security contributions and labor costs created additional cost pressure in the skilled trades. This made a reduction in the electricity tax for all businesses all the more urgent. "Energy-intensive sectors such as dry cleaners, which supply hospitals, retirement homes, and nursing homes with hygienic laundry and have enormous energy consumption, urgently need relief. But the electricity tax will not be reduced for them." The president of the skilled trades association emphasized that there is still a clear expectation that the decision on the electricity tax will be revised.

Small and medium-sized businesses and skilled trades are currently experiencing a lack of focus on concrete measures, says Dittrich. "This is a message that sticks with you." It's about appreciation, but also about setting priorities and a clear focus on small and medium-sized businesses. "Skilled trades are taking responsibility for training, securing skilled workers, and integration. What we expect are fair and predictable frameworks for entrepreneurial activity."

It's about reliability. "Apparently, reliability was not considered so urgent for small and medium-sized businesses and skilled trades. This leaves the impression: 'We're probably not that important to politicians after all.' And that undermines trust, which is, however, the foundation of any sustainable economic policy."