Federal Minister of Labor Hubertus Heil (SPD) emphasized the great importance of the project for Germany in connection with the federal government’s skilled labor offensive. “Germany will need all helping hands and bright minds in the future,” Heil said on Wednesday when the key points for a new immigration law for skilled workers were presented in Berlin.
According to the plans that the Federal Cabinet decided at midday, Germany wants to attract more workers from abroad and simplify the rules for entry and recognition of professional qualifications.
“Securing skilled workers is securing prosperity,” emphasized Heil. In all areas, such as nursing, childcare or public administration, millions of additional workers would be needed by 2035. “We will pull out all the stops to leverage domestic potential,” said Heil. This also includes easier access for foreign workers to the German labor market. The federal government’s plans for a “massive recruitment strategy” are a “big and important step”.
Among other things, the changes provide that recognized foreign skilled workers should also be able to work in occupations that have little or nothing to do with their training. Also new is the idea of using a point system to give non-EU foreigners the opportunity to move to Germany to look for a job. Heil emphasized that it is an illusion to believe that all skilled workers from abroad would want to come to Germany. It is therefore important to promote integration processes in addition to facilitating immigration.
Federal Minister of Economics Robert Habeck (Greens) emphasized that, in addition to climate protection and digitization, demographic change in the labor market is leading to major upheavals. Procedures for accelerating qualified immigration must be “implemented quickly and pragmatically”. “We will lower the limits and thresholds for immigration. We will improve integration,” assured the minister. Interior Minister Nancy Faeser (SPD) said she was confident that she would soon be able to present a concrete draft law to implement this project. According to Heil, the Bundestag should deal with the innovations in the immigration of skilled workers at the beginning of next year.
