Jörg Dittrich, the President of the Central Association of German Crafts (ZDH), has urged the new Federal Minister of Labor, Alexander Schweitzer (SPD), to quickly implement the flexible working hours agreed upon in the coalition contract. Speaking to the “Neue Osnabrücker Zeitung”, Dittrich stated that Schweitzer must finally make the job market more flexible, giving companies and employees more autonomy in designing their working hours. He criticized the ministry, noting that for months, it has failed to deliver drafts, and the present sketches do not align with the coalition agreement at all.
In the craft sector, Dittrich insists that flexibility and trust are crucial. Although he firmly opposes dismantling the social safety net, he argued that society must show solidarity not only with those who have lost their jobs but also with businesses whose business models are under extreme pressure. He called on the federal government to allow these enterprises to try out more flexible working times if it can help them. He added that the business climate index within the crafts industry has remained near the level it was during the Corona pandemic across the first half of the year, suggesting that “the mood is bad,” he stated.
Dittrich also expressed hope that the Federal Constitutional Court will continue to maintain the exemptions for business assets in its proceedings regarding inheritance tax. He pointed out that over 100,000 business successions are coming to the crafts sector over the next few years, and these must not be complicated or made impossible.
He noted that the debate surrounding inheritance tax tends to become overly emotional and fueled by envy. It consistently focuses on the example of wealthy billionaires, when ultimately, it is the middle class that suffers. The inheritance of a business means taking on not just assets, but also responsibility for employees and commitments such as their protection against dismissal. Dittrich warned: “If inheritance tax is imposed on assets tied up in machinery, cranes, and workshops-that are not cash assets-it can put a healthy family business in existential danger.” He concluded that the matter of inheritance tax is not merely a question of fairness but a pressing economic competitiveness issue regarding the country’s standing in the global market.
The Federal Constitutional Court is currently examining the question of whether the exemptions for business assets are legitimate compared to those for private wealth. A final ruling is anticipated next year.
