Germany plans immigration reforms to attract foreign workers


FILE PHOTO: The sun sets behind the skyline of Frankfurt


Wed, July 20, 2022 


BERLIN (Reuters) - Germany, faced with labour shortages that are contributing to soaring inflation, plans reforms to its immigration system to make itself more attractive to skilled workers who currently lean towards other rich countries, ministers said.

Labour Minister Hubertus Heil and Interior Ministry Nancy Faeser wrote in an article for business newspaper Handelsblatt that they wanted to turn Germany into an immigration destination.

"If we want to attract clever people, we have to offer them more than just simpler processes," they wrote.

"We're competing in the search for skilled labour with countries like the United States, Canada and Australia. We're talking good jobs, jobs with collective wage bargaining."

Europe's largest economy's need for skilled labour continues unabated, exacerbated by the country's ageing population. In June, almost 40% of employers in the engineering sector experienced shortages, economic research institute Ifo said.

Competition for skilled labour has intensified around the world, especially in industries where the COVID-19 pandemic has normalised home working, leading to narrowing wage differentials between wealthy and emerging economies.

German politicians hope the country's strong labour protections and human rights laws can help to attract skilled foreign workers.

"Germany has for a long time struggled to make itself visible as an immigration country," said Misbah Khan, migration policy specialist and member of parliament for the Green party, which is part of the centre-left coalition government. "Our strong civic rights are an important plus point."

Legislation announced last week will allow migrants already in Germany more time to find a job, but the two ministers said they wanted to go further to attract people from outside the EU who do not have an automatic right to work in the bloc.

Among the promised changes is a measure allowing industry trade associations to recognise foreign qualifications, sparing applicants the lengthy process usually needed to check their equivalence with Germany's certifications.

The ministers wrote that other countries do not have this hurdle. "Qualified workers steer wide of Germany," they said.

Recognition by a trade association would entitle people coming to Germany from overseas to a one-year visa to look for a job, they said.

(Reporting by Thomas Escritt, editing by Rachel More and Jane Merriman)