IN GERMANY, there is already a shortage of around two million skilled workers. The government has therefore presented a draft law on the immigration of skilled labor, which should make it easier for them to come, writes Deutsche Welle.

Germany lacks skilled labor in the care sector, in information technology, but it also lacks good craftsmen and logistics specialists. According to the German employment office, 400,000 skilled workers should permanently come to this country every year in order to stabilize the labor market. And in 2021, only 40,000 came. When the generation born in the 1960s retires, the problem will be even worse.

The German government has set itself the task of creating “the most modern immigration system in Europe”, as Labor Minister Hubertus Heil stated last November. “Many countries are competing with us for bright minds and hardworking hands. German prosperity is secured by getting the right workforce”, he added.

The government has now adopted the draft of the new labor immigration law. It actually belongs to the reforms that were launched three years ago by the previous coalition government of Christian Democrats and Social Democrats. Interior Minister Nancy Faeser is satisfied: “Today is a good day for Germany as a business location and in creating a modern and diverse country.” She too has repeatedly emphasized openness to the world and a culture of welcome in Germany so that both skilled workers and their families feel good in Germany.

What is changing?

First of all, this concerns skilled labor from countries that are not EU members – for Union citizens there are no obstacles anyway. The procedure should be eased in all three criteria: in the recognition of qualifications and diplomas, in the arrival of skilled labor with work experience, but also for those who do not yet have an employment contract with a company in Germany. More so-called “Blue Cards” of the European Union will also be issued – work and residence permits valid for 10 years.

However, the threshold for the expected annual gross income has been lowered from 58,400 euros to 45,552. For people with a completed university degree, arrival is possible even without language knowledge and the usual check of whether there is someone from Germany or the EU for the advertised position. Moreover, IT specialists will receive a “Blue Card” even before completing university if they already have work experience in their profession.

Twice as many skilled workers from the Western Balkans

In addition, under the new law it will be possible for immigrants to change professions: for example, a car mechanic will be able to switch to logistics.

For the six Western Balkan countries, the quota has been doubled so that 50,000 of them can come every year from this year onward.

As for the recognition of diplomas and qualifications – which usually took a very long time after the application was submitted, it will actually be completely abolished for people who have at least two years of work experience and if their qualification is recognized in the country of origin. “This change will mean less bureaucracy and a shorter procedure”, said Minister Faeser. Still, this applies only to skilled labor with income above a certain threshold. But those below that threshold will also be able to start working in Germany while their qualifications are still being checked.

It is also possible to come and only then look for a job

According to the draft law, a so-called “opportunity card” is also being introduced in which certain points are collected. With it, people with a completed university degree can come to Germany for one year to look for a job: the criterion is knowledge of German, but it can also be English, age, work experience, ties to Germany, and it will also be easier for those who come with a life partner for whom there are job prospects in this country. In fact, during that period they will be allowed to work part-time – up to 20 hours a week and completely outside their profession so that they can pay for their stay in this country while looking for the right job. Trial work is also allowed.

“We will make Germany more attractive for bright minds from all over the world. We will actively present Germany everywhere as an immigration country”, Minister Faeser said.

The law is one thing, but practice…

This legislative proposal will still be debated in the Bundestag, but the German opposition nevertheless has objections. Susanne Ferschl from the Left Party particularly objects that the immigration of labor into problematic and exploitative working relationships “should be stopped, not expanded”. Hermann Gröhe from the Christian Democrats believes that in all this “there is nothing truly effective” to attract more well-educated labor, and he particularly points to the staffing problem in Germany’s diplomatic missions that are supposed to decide on visas.

“If thousands of people wait months for a visa or recognition of qualifications, we finally need enough staff, not some new rules on points.”

Gerd Landsberg from the Association of German Cities and Municipalities also warns of the same: if someone has to wait months just for an appointment at the consulate, then in the end they will go somewhere else. In Rheinischen Post he advocates fast and digital visa issuance. The president of the German Skilled Crafts Association also warns that even the best law is of no help without good implementation. The entire arrival procedure should therefore be “radically simplified”.

Vanessa Ahuja from the German Employment Office also complains that the entire procedure has not been digitized: in correspondence with diplomatic missions, “in almost half of the cases we still receive faxes and letters”. The office therefore advocates a “100% digital path”, and that is precisely what foreign skilled workers complain about when they begin the process of coming to Germany.

Source: index.hr