The industrial trade union for Construction, Agriculture, and Environment (IG BAU) is expressing opposition to the planned ban on the expropriation of major real estate conglomerates. Union leader Robert Feiger told the “Redaktionsnetzwerk Deutschland” (Friday editions) that while the debate focuses on preventing the state socialization of private rental apartments at the state level, he has an alternative suggestion. He proposes that the government acquire majority holdings in large housing companies, such as Vonovia, allowing the state to significantly influence their operational policies, with the main focus being on creating affordable living spaces. This position contrasts with a previous agreement made between the Union and the SPD in the coalition committee, which stipulated a federal law designed to prevent state-level socialization acts from nationalizing private rental housing stock.
Furthermore, Feiger criticized the plan to cut the “craftsman bonus.” He warned that reducing the tax deductibility for professional trade services from 20 percent to 15 percent could be a self-defeating measure, essentially guaranteeing an increase in both illegal employment and undeclared work.
