Offered assistance or support. - Parliament votes on postal law revamp.
The German parliament, Bundestag, is set to hold a vote at noon on the renovation of the archaic Post Act on the afternoon of this Thursday. The last significant update to the law, implemented in 1998, coincided with a time when letters held more significance than they currently do in the digital era. The ruling traffic light coalition is therefore seeking to modernize the rules and offer postal services with less time pressure. As a result, more than 95% of discarded mail should be delivered to recipients within three working days instead of the two days it previously took.
As a consequence, those awaiting urgent letters may need to show some patience for a while longer. However, it's also possible to send priority letters at a faster rate than regular postage, but at a higher cost. The amended legislation also includes stricter regulations on the employment of outside contractors, as well as the easier installation of postal machines. The parliamentary Economic Committee approved the bill on Wednesday, and the Bundestag's plenary session is expected to affirm its adoption. Projections indicate that the Bundesrat will adopt the new law sometime in July.
