An Important First Step Towards Effective Reduction of Bureaucracy in Occupational Health and Safety
BDA on the Reform of Safety Representatives:
An Important First Step Towards Effective Reduction of Bureaucracy in Occupational Health and Safety
Berlin, 13 February 2026. “Employers welcome the reform plans of the Federal Ministry of Labour, which aim to provide companies with noticeable relief from the obligation to appoint safety representatives. This is an important first step towards effectively reducing bureaucracy in occupational health and safety.
The reform foresees that in future around 123,000 fewer safety representatives will need to be appointed. This will result in annual relief for the economy of roughly 135 million euros.
The high level of occupational health and safety in our country will remain unaffected by the reform. All statutory protection regulations will remain fully in force. In particular, every company will continue to receive technical safety support from the very first employee.
From the BDA’s perspective, the reform and the increase of the appointment threshold for safety representatives to 50 employees send an important signal towards a modern, practical approach to occupational health and safety. Above all, small companies should be freed from unnecessary administrative burdens.
It is crucial that the planned relief is not partly offset by new burdens. It is therefore counterproductive that, under the ministry’s plans, some small businesses with up to 20 employees would, for the first time, be required to appoint a safety representative. Bureaucracy reduction only has a positive effect if new bureaucracy is not created at the same time.
With the planned adjustment, the Federal Ministry of Labour is implementing a key proposal of the BDA. Further steps towards comprehensive bureaucracy reduction in occupational health and safety must follow.”
BDA on the Reform of Safety Representatives:
An Important First Step Towards Effective Reduction of Bureaucracy in Occupational Health and Safety
Berlin, 13 February 2026. “Employers welcome the reform plans of the Federal Ministry of Labour, which aim to provide companies with noticeable relief from the obligation to appoint safety representatives. This is an important first step towards effectively reducing bureaucracy in occupational health and safety.
The reform foresees that in future around 123,000 fewer safety representatives will need to be appointed. This will result in annual relief for the economy of roughly 135 million euros.
The high level of occupational health and safety in our country will remain unaffected by the reform. All statutory protection regulations will remain fully in force. In particular, every company will continue to receive technical safety support from the very first employee.
From the BDA’s perspective, the reform and the increase of the appointment threshold for safety representatives to 50 employees send an important signal towards a modern, practical approach to occupational health and safety. Above all, small companies should be freed from unnecessary administrative burdens.
It is crucial that the planned relief is not partly offset by new burdens. It is therefore counterproductive that, under the ministry’s plans, some small businesses with up to 20 employees would, for the first time, be required to appoint a safety representative. Bureaucracy reduction only has a positive effect if new bureaucracy is not created at the same time.
With the planned adjustment, the Federal Ministry of Labour is implementing a key proposal of the BDA. Further steps towards comprehensive bureaucracy reduction in occupational health and safety must follow.”
