Germany faces acute labour shortage, eases immigration laws

Germany Faces Acute Labour Shortage, Eases Immigration Laws

Germany’s acute labour shortage has resulted in a swath of measures that will modernize the country’s immigration law. It is also proposed to introduce a Canadian-style points system to invite immigrant workers who speak German or have relevant skills.

Sectors like technology, skilled trades, catering, logistics, education and nursing are struggling due to want of qualified workers, and as Labor Minister Hubertus Heil pointed out, “For many companies, the search for skilled workers is already an existential issue.”

Government records state that the country would need seven million skilled workers by 2035, and it is opined that there is a need for recruiting an additional 400,000 skilled immigrants a year.

What will the new rules look like?

Opportunity card based on point system: It is proposed to introduce an “opportunity card”. This card will be based on a points system and will take into consideration factors like qualifications, age, language skills and work experience.

Recognition for foreign education: The government plants to simplify the process for recognising foreign qualifications. Candidates can now submit documents in English or other languages, and will not require a certified translation. 

Additionally, some professionals can apply for immigration without German recognition of their degree. For this, the prerequisite would be at least two years of work experience and a degree that is recognized in their country of origin. 

Vocational language classes for asylum seekers: It is proposed to provide integrational courses and vocational language classes for all asylum seekers, regardless of the strength of their future prospects of obtaining PR.

Changes to the EU-wide blue card: The EU-wide Blue Card for highly qualified specialists was first introduced in Germany 10 years ago. The country now proposes to extend this card to include even cooks and construction experts, energy technicians and truck drivers, among other non-skilled professions, in a bid to address the labour shortage. 

New rules introduced for students and interns: The country is also seeking more people to come from abroad to study or train for a profession, and will then permit them to work here with the skills they learn. The existing “priority check” for apprenticeships may be removed, and students will also be allowed to work while studying. 

Overseas students with sufficient German language skills can avail of internships of up to six weeks, even without the approval of the Federal Employment Agency.

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