Erfurt (dpa/th) – The East German chambers of crafts are calling for long-term measures to support companies. Political measures should not have any consequences that threaten the existence of craft businesses, their employees and trainees, said the President of the Erfurt Chamber of Crafts, Stefan Lobenstein, on Friday at a meeting of representatives of the chambers in Erfurt. Energy supplies would have to be reliable and at competitive prices, and taxes and social security contributions would have to be reduced.
At the meeting of the presidents of the chambers of crafts in Saxony, Saxony-Anhalt, Thuringia, Berlin, Brandenburg and Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, they also discussed the third relief package planned by the federal government due to rising energy costs. “The instruments are solely characterized by short-term actionism,” said Lobenstein. Companies need solutions to be able to cope with the long-term consequences of the corona pandemic and the effects of the price increases for electricity and gas. The food trade, textile cleaning, breweries, electroplaters and car repair shops are particularly affected by the current challenges.
In the eastern German federal states there are over 201,000 craft businesses with more than 880,000 employees. In around 130 trades, the companies generate annual sales of around 90 billion euros.