Zypries: "The master craftsman certificate remains"

The new European Union (EU) services package and its attack on both the German skilled crafts and the master craftsman certificate was a key topic at the opening of the Internationalen Handwerksmesse (IHM) 2017 - the leading craft trade fair. Zypries, Minister of Economic Affairs, is seeking to protect the training system and the Chambers' self-administration in Germany.

"We want to keep our good craft and trade regulation code. The master craftsman certificate must remain," explained Brigitte Zypries, Minister of Economic Affairs at the opening of the International Handwerkmesse 2017 - the leading craft trade fair - in Munich. Zypries also clarified that the self-administration of the Chambers of Crafts and Trades should not be touched.

Representatives of business, politics and media expressed their resentment and concerns during the IHM podium discussion regarding a recent attack on the master craftsman certificate represented by the planned EU services package. Reassurances from Brussels are clearly not to be trusted.

EU senior-level representative, Irmfried Schwimann, attempted to ease the concerns of the skilled crafts surrounding the master craftsman certificate in an interview with the Deutsche Handwerks Zeitung, the newspaper of the German skilled crafts. Key content of the EU services package includes the introduction of a services card and the assessment of proportionality of professional regulations. The skilled crafts organisations regard this as a renewed general attack on the master craftsman certificate as an access requirement.

Rolf Dieter Krause, journalist and former head of the ARD studio in Brussels, reminded Zypries that this attack from Brussels should not be underestimated. We must "be on maximum alert," commented the EU expert and recommended that Zypries applies the "Berlusconi methods" here if necessary. This means that, if needs be, the Federal Government should exert pressure on Brussels, and in doing so should also consider sanctions in other economic areas in order to protect the master craftsman certificate and the German vocational education and training system by all means possible. Krause said, "There are also poor craftspeople in Germany, but not as many as there are abroad."

However, the Minister for Economic Affairs does not regard the Berlusconi methods as the right way to proceed and wants to continue making a case for the German education and training system in individual discussions with country representatives at EU level. Zypries added that France had already been secured as a key partner.

Zypries and Kruse, the journalist, engaged in several interesting debates on the stage at the Internationalen Handwerkmesse - the leading trade fair for craft trades. For example, Krause criticised the government for the fact that, in the past, projects had frequently been announced differently to how they had ultimately been implemented in Brussels.

Hans Peter Wollseifer, President of the German Central Association of Skilled Trades, regards the renewed attacks on the master craftsman certificate as "depressing". It was "almost a cheek," he added, that the EU should seek to override the sovereignty of national interests.

"The EU must ultimately learn to understand that the levelling down of training qualifications to a lower level does not lead to success.” Wollseifer fears that not only that the master craftsman certificate is endangered but also that certain standards in the German labour market such as minimum wage and occupational safety could be undermined.

Ilse AIgner, Bavaria's Minister of Economic Affairs, stressed that the EU services package not only threatens the master craftsman certificate but also challenges the protected access for starting businesses in certain sectors.

The example of the skilled crafts amendment from 2004, in which Germany had abolished the master craftsman licensing requirement, shows where a softening of occupational licensing might lead. Aigner stressed that, from today's perspective, that had been an error because the quality in some occupations had reduced as a result.

ZDH President Wollseifer also called for a Germany-wide training package at the opening of the International Handwerksmesse. He explained that vocational education in Germany is still not treated equally when compared to academic education and training.

He added that this is demonstrated, for example, by the costs which the skilled craftsperson incurs for continuing education and training activities. He pointed out that, compared to this, a degree in Germany is free of charge. "Free continuing education and training must be the goal," said Wollseifer, adding that this would require much greater investment in the vocational education and training sector. "We could then turn training centres into competence centres or even centres of excellence."

Zypries, Minister of Economic Affairs, indicated that she wanted to co-operate with the skilled crafts in this respect, however at the same time referred to current levels of investment which are already high. "Money alone is not sufficient," commented Zypries. She explained that, above all, in order to improve the attractiveness of vocational education and training, there needed to be an increase in motivation to complete an apprenticeship in the skilled crafts. The Minister of Economic Affairs also made reference to the problem of matching between companies and trainees, which is why many training positions still remain unfilled.

Away from the major topic of the EU and the master craftsman certificate, journalist Rolf Dieter Krause praised the skilled crafts for their honest entrepreneurship, adding that here the boss is still personally responsible for his entrepreneurial risk. He also said that, on the contrary, a company such as the Deutsche Bank, a once honourable bank, has now become an almost criminal association.