Saxon economy delivers proposals for reducing bureaucracy

The business association Sachsenmetall and the Saxon Business Association (VSW) are calling for a much more ambitious reduction in bureaucracy in Saxony, including immediate measures and binding targets. As a result of a study carried out by the Dresden Institute for Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises and Regional Development (Imreg) on behalf of the associations, they are proposing, among other things, that old rules be abolished in favour of new ones and that administrative digitization be driven forward more consistently.

Simplified reporting obligations, less regulation and faster visa and recognition procedures for foreign skilled workers should noticeably reduce the burden on companies and ensure the international competitiveness of Saxony as a business location. This study should serve as a basis for discussion with Saxony's state politicians, Sachsenmetall CEO Carsten Büttner told the German Press Agency in Dresden.

Study identifies the 27 biggest bureaucratic problems

The Imreg said that it had surveyed fifteen member companies on bureaucratic hurdles and developed proposals for solutions and narrowed down 27 specific bureaucratic problems. According to the survey, typical points of criticism from respondents include duplicate documentation and reporting obligations due to a lack of data exchange between authorities, inconsistent procedures and forms from municipality to municipality and inconsistently digitalized processes that ultimately require postal correspondence and signatures to be completed.

Sachsenmetall represents numerous companies in the metal and electrical industry in Saxony. As the umbrella organization of Saxony's employers' and trade associations, VSW represents the construction, service, trade, craft and industrial sectors.