Lengerich (dpa / lnw) - During a visit to a bakery in Lengerich in Münsterland, State Labor Minister Karl-Josef Laumann called on the federal government to do more for small and medium-sized businesses in the energy crisis. "So far, the measures taken by the federal government have not been of any significant help to companies. That has to change. Price-reducing measures are now urgently needed," said the CDU politician on Monday of the German Press Agency.
Raw material and energy prices are high, the shortage of skilled workers is causing problems for companies, and the loss of purchasing power is leading to less consumption, said Laumann. "However, small and medium-sized enterprises are the backbone of our society. They make an important contribution to prosperity and employment in our country. And that's how it has to stay."
According to the State Statistical Office, the number of companies and employees in the bakery trade was already declining before the Corona crisis in NRW. While there were 2,272 companies nationwide in 2008, there were still 1,350 in 2019. In the same period, the number of employees fell from 51,067 to 48,154. Sales fell by almost 3.5 percent to EUR 3.34 billion.
