The German middle class is an important building block for the German economy.
picture alliance / Zoonar | Robert Kneschke
The corona pandemic has a firm grip on medium-sized businesses. In Germany, more than 90 percent of companies are medium-sized and create 60 percent of jobs. This is evident from the figures from the Federal Association of Medium-Sized Enterprises (BVMW).
The BVMW presented ten points as central demands of the middle class on Tuesday in Berlin before the upcoming federal election campaign. The aim is for the parties to make this an integral part of their respective election programs.
Demands before the election campaign
“Politicians must now set the course for the future of companies. The aim is to overcome the consequences of the corona pandemic, to promote growth and employment and to secure the competitiveness of Germany as a business location before the election, “says BVMW Federal Managing Director Markus Jerger.
One of the most important demands is for a state transformation and equity fund worth 40 billion euros annually for a period of ten years. According to BVMW, many medium-sized companies are said to have had massive liquidity problems during the corona crisis and had to fall back on their equity to secure their livelihoods and in some cases use it up completely. This is a heavy mortgage for the future of these companies.
Higher tax rates for large companies
The association would also like to see innovations on the subject of taxes. An “innovation- and investment-friendly tax system” is to be created because it cannot be conveyed that the master craftsman pays a higher tax rate than globally operating companies in Germany. “The first step towards fair taxation begins with such corporations paying appropriate tax rates and thus making their contribution to society,” said a spokesman for the federal association at the press conference.
In addition, the association is calling for a greater say in legislative projects through a regulatory moratorium. This applies, for example, to the Supply Chain Act, which should be repealed until appropriate European regulations are passed. The 10-point plan also includes the use of annual working time accounts instead of maximum weekly working hours, the shortening of planning and approval procedures and the further suspension of the obligation to file for insolvency for the next six months.
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