Offered Solutions - Parliament passes a bill on postal system changes.
The German Parliament has approved an update to the outdated Postal Law. In a meeting at the Berlin plenum on Thursday, the reform proposed by the coalition government won majority support. The Bundesrat is scheduled to give its approval in July, completing the legislative process. The reform will allow the German Postal Service more time to deliver mail, requiring them to deliver 95% of letters to recipients within three business days instead of the current two-day turnaround.
This change will eliminate the need for air travel within Germany for mail delivery, reducing CO2 emissions and costs. Consumers can expect slightly longer delivery times for letters starting in 2025. Additionally, the reform simplifies the installation of postal machines and increases transparency in the parcel industry.
The parcel industry is also affected by the changes. More frequent and thorough checks on subcontractors will help identify illegal labor practices and overtime violations. A federal agency list will make it easier to track contractors and prevent questionable businesses from continuing operations. For packages weighing more than 20 kilograms, transport should be carried out by two people unless they have appropriate equipment, which would allow for single-person delivery.
The current Postal Law has been in effect, with significant parts remaining unchanged, since 1998. At that time, online trading was in its infancy, and letters played a crucial role in day-to-day communication. Nowadays, as people increasingly rely on chats and emails, the volume of mail being sent continues to decline.
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The Federal Council is expected to review and approve the amendments to the Postal Act in July, continuing the legislative process in Germany. The reform will directly impact Deutsche Post AG, or German Post, affecting their service delivery requirements. This change in the Postal Law could potentially influence discussions in the Bundestag about future postal services and related policies. The German traffic light coalition, being the governing party, plays a crucial role in implementing these reforms and addressing any related challenges in the parcel industry.
