Handwerkskammer (Aufgaben)

• § 91 Crafts Code (HwO)

The Chamber of Crafts (HWK) is a corporation under public law, the legal basis is the Crafts Code (HwO). As a self-governing institution for the entire craft sector, the Chambers of Crafts represent the interests of the craft trades. They include self-employed craftsmen and owners of craft businesses in the district of the Chamber of Crafts, as well as journeymen, other employees who have completed vocational training and apprentices (trainees) of these tradesmen. As with all professional chambers, membership is compulsory.

The tasks of the Chamber of Crafts are in particular:

• to promote the interests of the craft sector and to ensure a fair balance between the interests of the individual crafts and their organisations,
• to support the authorities in the promotion of crafts, e.g. by making proposals and drawing up expert opinions,
• to write regular reports on the conditions of the craft trades,
• to keep the register of craftsmen,
• to regulate vocational training, in particular inter-company training, and to supervise its implementation; This includes:
  • to run an apprentice role,
  • to issue examination regulations and to establish examination committees for this purpose,
  • to issue journeyman's examination regulations for the individual crafts,
  • to issue master craftsman's examination regulations for the individual crafts and to conduct the business of the master craftsman's examination board.

Furthermore, the chambers of crafts support their members both with legal advice and with business advice. In doing so,

• appoints and swears in experts to prepare expert opinions on goods, services and prices of craftsmen, and
• Conciliation bodies set up to settle disputes between owners of craft businesses and their principals.

Contact the Chamber of Crafts responsible for you.