Just under two months before the general election, the trade is expressing clear expectations of the new federal government. Especially in financial policy – but also in terms of climate protection.
The craft has vehemently warned against tax increases after the federal election. “That would be poison for the economic development of the companies, especially in the post-Corona build-up phase,” said craftsman president Hans Peter Wollseifer of the German press agency in Berlin.
“We have to relieve the companies and not burden them.” This applies to tax policy, social security contributions and bureaucracy.
Strong companies are necessary, said Wollseifer. “Then they create jobs, train more people and pay more taxes on site. All of this is important in order to repay the great commitments that we entered into during the Corona period and that we still have to enter into. Nobody should seriously believe that we can cope with these costs with a little tax increase here and a little tax increase there. That is a task of at least 10 years. We demand a fair and responsible approach from those involved in politics. “
Among other things, the SPD and the Greens speak out in their election manifestos in favor of taxing high assets more heavily. The Left, which is presenting its tax concept this Monday, wants that too. The SPD writes that it should be ensured that the wealth tax does not endanger jobs. The Greens say that they want to introduce benefits for business assets in the “constitutionally permitted and economically necessary extent”.
Wollseifer also called for social security contributions to be permanently limited to a maximum of 40 percent. “The craft is very wage and labor-intensive. As a result, we have a high proportion of wages in our calculations. This wage share is strongly influenced by social security contributions. The social guarantee must definitely apply beyond the year 2021. “
The President of the Central Association of German Crafts continued: «We should take another look at the social security contributions. We have to make the social systems future-proof and should heed the principle that tasks and burdens for society as a whole are also financed by the general public. ” Contributors would have to be relieved of non-insurance benefits, also in order to achieve fairness in contributions and not leave the financing of social security contributions primarily on the shoulders of employees and employers.
“In the care sector, we have to ask ourselves whether we no longer need private provision and also have to finance a lot more socially,” said Wollseifer. When it comes to health insurance, the state is “slender” among recipients of unemployment benefit II. Currently, the state only pays a third of what it actually has to pay. “The difference is almost 10 billion euros. With that we could lower the contribution rate. There are many starting points for keeping social security contributions at 40 percent. Otherwise we run the risk of social security contributions increasing to 50 percent by 2040. But that would not be manageable. “
Wollseifer also called for partnerships and corporations to be treated equally so that craftsmen did not pay more taxes than large corporations. “We need an accumulation reserve that is set high enough and that works. Companies must be able to invest. Then they do more. Then they employ more people. Then they also pay more taxes. This is the only way to turn it into a shoe. “
Jane Stock is a technology author, who has written for 24 Hours World. She writes about the latest in technology news and trends, and is always on the lookout for new and innovative ways to improve his audience’s experience.
