Germany relaxes immigration rules for skilled workers

 

"Germany's parliament passed a law on Friday easing immigration rules for skilled workers at a time when Europe's biggest economy is grappling with persistent labor shortages across industries.

 

    

 

     With an aging population, Germany has been struggling for years to attract enough workers in various sectors, including hotels, healthcare and construction. At the end of 2022, there were about 2 million vacant jobs.

 

    

 

     Lawmakers belonging to the ruling coalition have voted in favor of changes to legislation aimed at making it easier for skilled workers from abroad to find employment in Germany.

 

    

 

     Under the new rules, a points system based on the Canadian model will be applied, which will assess factors such as skills, education and language proficiency. Professional qualifications acquired abroad will also be more widely recognized.

 

    

 

     Economy Minister Robert Habeck welcomed the news, which he says is one of the most pressing problems facing Germany.

 

    

 

     "We are reducing barriers to immigration," he stressed in a statement. "In the future, it will be much easier for companies to recruit qualified workers from abroad."

 

    

 

     But opposition politicians have criticized the law, particularly a provision that allows some asylum seekers already in the country to settle there if they are qualified and have a job offer or are already working.

 

    

 

     The coalition "sends a signal to the world that practically everyone who somehow got into the country can stay," Thorsten Frei, a lawmaker from the conservative CDU party, told media group RND.

 

    

 

     But employers' organizations have long called for a relaxation of immigration rules for the 84 million. in a populous country.

 

    

 

     Earlier this year, the German Chamber of Commerce and Industry stated that the problem of labor shortages is having a huge economic impact and that half of the German companies surveyed are having difficulty finding workers."

 

 

 

Some members of the German parliament are openly against accepting such emigrants who are unwilling or unable to integrate into German society.