“Skilled workers from abroad should feel welcome here”

“Skilled workers from abroad should feel welcome here”

type:
News

, Date:
27 April 2023

Germany needs to modernise its immigration legislation in order to compete effectively for the brightest minds.

In a speech at the German Bundestag, Federal Minister of the Interior Nancy Faeser said that the Federal Government’s Skilled Immigration Act (Fachkräfteeinwanderungsgesetz) marked a turning point in Germany’s immigration policy. “We are creating the most modern immigration law Germany has ever had.”

Bill to reform the Skilled Immigration Act

The bill to reform the Skilled Immigration Act – discussed today at the first reading in the Bundestag – is intended to make it easier for skilled workers to come to Germany. The bill was presented by the Federal Ministry of the Interior and Community and the Federal Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs.

“We need more skilled workers from abroad to cover our demands,” the Federal Minister of the Interior said. “We cannot do without this kind of immigration.”

The amended Skilled Immigration Act will create new pathways for immigrating to Germany:

  • Qualification: Under the new law, foreigners who have a vocational qualification or higher-education degree will be eligible to take up any skilled employment.
  • Experience: Foreigners who have at least two years of work experience and a vocational qualification that is recognised in their country of origin will be able to immigrate for the purpose of employment. The vocational qualification will no longer have to be recognised in Germany, which means less bureaucracy and shorter procedures.
  • Potentials: The new law will create an “opportunity card” (Chancenkarte) based on a points system. Points will be given for vocational qualifications, knowledge of German and English, work experience, links to Germany, age, and spouses or civil partners who will be coming to Germany with the primary applicant..

Immigration of skilled workers goes hand-in-hand with modern nationality law

According to Minister Faeser, Germany is not currently one of the top destinations for skilled workers from abroad. If they had the choice, many would choose countries like the United States or Canada.

One reason for this is the significant administrative hurdles for skilled people seeking work in Germany. But another reason became apparent during discussions the minister held on her visit to Canada in March: Germany can only become an attractive destination for skilled workers from other countries if they feel welcome here.

When skilled workers are asked why they came to Canada, their response is clear: because I can get Canadian citizenship.

Minister Faeser said, “The Federal Government will therefore give well-integrated and highly qualified people the opportunity to acquire German citizenship. Because immigration of skilled workers goes hand-in-hand with modern nationality law.”

A group of young people are sitting at a table having breakfast


Source: Adobe Stock/ Xavier Lorenzo

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Originally published at https://www.bmi.bund.de/SharedDocs/kurzmeldungen/EN/2023/04/fachkraefte-bt.html;jsessionid=96911F679663738FAD017949606D14AD.1_cid364

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