Crafts Association President Dittrich Calls for Commission to Relieve Businesses

Concrete figures underscore the situation: In 2025, the crafts sector has 73,000 fewer jobs compared to the previous year. Even though no wave of insolvencies is yet visible in the crafts sector, developments are heading in the wrong direction, Dittrich warned. The ZDH has received many concerned, in some cases outraged and bitter messages from members asking, "how we are supposed to positively accompany the reform process when economic data keeps getting worse and this is also reflected in order books."

Economic Situation in the Crafts Sector

Dittrich therefore called for a targeted relief commission. "My expectation is: If this is the coalition's instrument, then it should now appoint a commission that focuses on the financial relief of businesses and employees," he said. It is not only about an income tax reform, but explicitly about "how the far too high non-wage labor costs can be reduced again."

The crafts president pointed to the logic of lower non-wage labor costs: "We need more performance-based fairness. Pure redistribution does not make us more competitive. When people have less money at their disposal, that reduces consumption. With lower non-wage labor costs, on the other hand, businesses and employees would have more funds available. That would strengthen competitiveness as well as support exports and at the same time bolster the domestic market."

Call for a Relief Commission

At the same time, he warned against one-sided distribution policy: relief measures must reach where they have an economic impact. The federal government is planning a reform package; in addition, a pension reform commission has presented balanced proposals that fundamentally received broad approval. With statutory health insurance funds, stabilization is considered achieved, although they see no room for reductions. In parallel, the federal government has adopted a savings package intended to prevent an increase in healthcare expenditure.

Dittrich attributed part of the job losses to demographic change, but emphasized: "But if the economy were running smoothly, master craftspeople would have ways and means to counter this, for example by taking on employees from other sectors that are transforming." With a view to a broader economic strategy, he drew a comparison to sport: "We can gladly accept that Germany will again lose in the round of sixteen at the next World Cup. But if we want to win, we have to change our style of play."

Political Context and Next Steps

With the demand for a relief commission, the ZDH is stepping up pressure on the coalition. The crafts sector is pushing for more extensive relief beyond the planned reform package. The message is clear: as long as higher costs burden businesses and order books continue to thin out, the business location lacks the foundation for new employment.

The debate is set against the backdrop of concerns that a weak domestic economy could undermine the recovery of the export sector. Dittrich sees reducing non-wage labor costs as a lever to simultaneously support consumption, exports, and the domestic market. Whether the coalition will follow the proposal and establish its own commission remains open.