The Schnitzer economy proposes more immigration to combat the shortage of skilled workers. The new Skilled Workers Act is already going in the right direction, but the Federal Republic as a whole is not making as much progress “as we could and should”.
As a measure against the increasing shortage of skilled workers, Monika Schnitzer suggested more immigration. “Germany needs 1.5 million immigrants a year if, minus the considerable emigration, we have 400,000 new citizens every year and want to maintain the number of workers,” said the economist of the “Süddeutsche Zeitung”. Germany urgently needs a culture of welcome, added Schnitzer, who heads the German government’s council of experts.
“Invest more in the children”
The Skilled Immigration Act passed by the Bundestag is a step in the right direction. However, more is needed: “For example, immigration offices that don’t deter immigrants, but offer service,” she said. “We shouldn’t demand that foreign skilled workers speak German for every job. We should make sure that the employees at the immigration authorities speak English.”
In order to address the shortage of skilled workers, Germany must also invest more in the children, Schnitzer demanded. “It’s an indictment that every fourth fourth grader can’t read properly,” she criticized. In addition, the companies would have to keep the older employees happy so that they do not retire early, the economist continued.
Schnitzer said that the Federal Republic was not making as much progress “as we could and should”. Among other things, they have not invested in the infrastructure, are lagging far behind in digitization and have started too late with climate protection.
The Skilled Immigration Act
With the new law on the immigration of skilled workers, workers from countries outside the EU should be able to come to Germany based on a points system to look for work. This is intended to make it easier for experienced specialists to immigrate and integrate in Germany. At the same time, the promotion of further training is to be increased and a training guarantee is to be introduced in order to qualify domestic workers.
FDP: Even educators with little knowledge of German
Because of the shortage of skilled workers in daycare centers, the FDP in the Bundestag can also imagine the use of educators who do not yet have the necessary German language level. It is conceivable that language skills would be acquired part-time, according to a position paper that the FDP parliamentary group is expected to adopt this week and about which the “Tagesspiegel” reported on Sunday.
“In view of the ongoing immigration to Germany, immigrant specialists without sufficient knowledge of German can be employed for a limited period of time in institutions with children of the respective language of origin,” it continues. Many people who have immigrated to Germany bring professional qualifications or qualifications in the educational field with them. “These qualifications must be recognized more easily, less bureaucratically and more quickly, if possible within 60 days.”
According to the Federal Office for Migration and Refugees, German language skills at level C1 (advanced language level) are required in many federal states for certain professions, such as the educator profession. The FDP paper calls for more flexibility in the future in order to integrate the urgently needed specialists into the system.