The master roofer Jörg Dittrich was elected the new president of the Central Association of German Crafts (ZDH) on Thursday. On January 1, 2023, Dittrich will succeed the previous ZDH President Hans Peter Wollseifer, who resigned after nine years in office. The new President of the Skilled Trades sees securing skilled workers, strengthening vocational training as well as digitization and innovation in the skilled trades as key issues.

The craft is the backbone and the natural partner for the transformation of society and economy, said the native of Dresden. "The Association of German Crafts gave me a great leap of faith," he emphasized after the election at the German Crafts Day in Augsburg. From the clear decision he takes a lot of momentum for the upcoming tasks. "The craft businesses are facing major challenges that we can only successfully overcome as a team."

Crafts stabilize society

The 53-year-old has been President of the Dresden Chamber of Crafts since 2012 and President of the Saxon Crafts Day since last year. He was the only candidate to stand for election at the German Crafts Day 2022.

"The trade is the stabilizing core of our society and economy," he said. He wants to do everything in his power to ensure that in the future in the trades it is all about where you want to go and not where you come from. This requires strong self-government of the trades, which optimally supports the companies, employees and trainees.

The German Trade Union Confederation (DGB) hopes for good cooperation with the new President of the Craft Industry. "Anyone who wants to strengthen the skilled trades as a stable economic factor must offer good working conditions and a high level of collective bargaining coverage so that skilled workers do not migrate and new ones can be recruited," said DGB board member Stefan Körzell.