Germany’s bureaucracy reform under fire for lacking real commitment

FDP leader slams Germany’s ‘sham’ bureaucracy cuts as SMEs face new burdens

FDP leader Christian Dürr has slammed the federal government's bureaucracy-reduction measures as a 'sham package'. He accused the coalition of lacking resolve and commitment, drifting towards inaction, despite promising reforms. Dürr warned that small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) would face greater burdens from new requirements.

Dürr was particularly critical of the proposed Wage Compliance Act. This law would mandate companies to provide collective bargaining-level working conditions for employees involved in federal contracts or concessions worth at least €50,000. Dürr fears this could 'drown the middle class in unnecessary bureaucracy'.

He accused the Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs, which drafted the bill, of not going far enough. Dürr claimed that the announced bureaucracy cuts risked being 'only a few hundred million euros' in relief. He called for 'bold reforms in the welfare state, pensions, and a halt to the relentless wave of new bureaucracy'.

Dürr also accused coalition partners of lacking reform commitment. He pointed to broken promises on the debt brake and citizen’s allowance as evidence. He stated that the FDP had pushed through ten times more bureaucracy cuts against the Greens than the current CDU-SPD coalition plans.

Dürr's criticism highlights the ongoing debate surrounding bureaucracy reduction and reform in Germany. His calls for bold action and commitment to reform echo the concerns of many businesses and citizens. The government will need to address these issues to regain trust and deliver on its promises.