Offered Solutions - Parliament approves changes to postal legislation.
Starting next year, Germans may have to wait longer for their letters. The Bundestag recently passed a proposal to update the outdated Postlaw with support from the traffic light coalition. The bill is awaiting approval from the Bundesrat, expected in July, to complete the reform.
Currently, the German Post must deliver 80% of thrown-in letters by the next working day and 95% by the second. The reform intends to remove the 80% requirement and move the 95% target to the third working day, allowing the post to reduce costs and eliminate airplanes used for letter transport.
The changes recognize that letters are no longer as relevant in daily communication, with many individuals opting for chats and emails. The last significant reform to the Postlaw occurred in 1997, when Netflix was founded and delivered its DVDs through the post. "We were founded the same year as Netflix, which still shipped DVDs through the mail back then," said CSU Bundestag member Hansjörg Dürz. Liberal Reinhard Houben agreed, stating that updated regulations were necessary due to the shifting demand from letters to packages. "This law will provide a consistent framework for covering consumers in both letters and packages while maintaining reasonable costs," said FDP politician.
The legislation also lays the groundwork for a postage hike set to take effect in January 2025. The exact increase amount is undetermined, with the Federal Network Agency tasked with making this decision through a separate calculation process. The domestic delivery for a standard letter, currently at 85 cents, will not surpass one euro, according to the traffic light coalition's wishes.
The law also addresses proper conditions in the parcel industry. The Federal Network Agency will establish a subcontractor registry, promoting transparency and identifying undesirable players in the market. Additionally, the Federal Network Agency and customs can implement stricter policies on subcontractors through new reporting and storage deadlines. These updates would enable supervisors to identify working time violations.
Despite these measures, Left Bundestag member Jörg Cezanne advocated for abolishing "subs" in the parcel industry altogether. He considered the Ampel's accessibility rules for subcontractors as a "feeble solution."
In the voting process, the traffic light factions supported the legislative proposal while the CDU/CSU and AfD voted against it. The Left Party abstained from casting a vote. While Dürz, the CSU member, favored altering the outdated law, he disagreed with how the traffic light coalition's suggestion would trigger "unnecessary bureaucratic growth."
Read also:
- The Federal Council will need to approve the changes to the Postal Act, as passed by the Bundestag, before the reform can be fully implemented.
- The proposed changes will affect Deutsche Post AG and its services, as the requirement to deliver 80% of letters within the next working day will be removed.
- The traffic light coalition, including the CSU, supported the reform, recognizing the need for updated regulations due to the shift from letters to packages.
- In addition to changing delivery times, the Postal Act also includes provisions for addressing proper conditions in the parcel industry and establishing a subcontractor registry.
- The Federal Network Agency will be responsible for determining the exact increase in postage for a standard letter, with the aim being to keep the price below one euro.
- Despite the measures included in the Postal Act, some members of the Left Bundestag, such as Jörg Cezanne, advocate for abolishing the use of subcontractors in the parcel industry entirely.
