Federal government plans: Fewer hurdles for foreign skilled workers

Germany urgently needs skilled workers – that’s also what the cabinet should be about on Wednesday. A key issues paper that dem ARD Capital Studio is available, provides for lower hurdles for workers from abroad.

The traffic light coalition has agreed on key points for the immigration of skilled workers. They are to be decided in the cabinet on Wednesday. In the first quarter of next year 2023, the cabinet should already have the draft law. Many ministries took part – interior, labour, foreign affairs, economy and education. Interior Minister Nancy Faeser and Labor Minister Hubertus Heil are in charge.

On 23 pages, the traffic light lists many ideas on how to make Germany more attractive as a job market for skilled workers abroad, how to attract students and researchers as “skilled workers of tomorrow” or how to improve language learning opportunities at home and abroad. To the ARD Capital Studio the key issues paper that has now been agreed is available.

Lower the barriers to the influx of skilled workers

Central is the plan to change immigration law in such a way that the hurdles for skilled workers from abroad are lowered. Goal: It should be easier for people in third countries to find a job in Germany. The ministers differentiate between three so-called pillars.

The first pillar deals with the requirements that foreign skilled workers have to prove in order to be allowed to work here. So far, they have required a recognized qualification and an employment contract, as well as employment conditions that are equivalent to those in Germany. To put it simply, the recognized specialists are to be given more support in the future.

The ministers of the traffic light coalition list some ideas for this. The draft states, for example: Entry and residence opportunities should nevertheless be created for skilled workers who are unable or only partially able to present documents relating to their professional qualifications for reasons for which they are not responsible. To put it simply, the skills could then be finally tested here in Germany.

The second pillar is about skilled workers from abroad who may not yet have a degree but already have a lot of professional experience. They should also be given access to the German labor market.

Among other things, the traffic light coalition wants to improve the conditions for employees in information and communication technology. For them, sufficient proof of German language skills should be waived. It is then at the discretion of the managers of a company who make job offers to decide whether they want to employ the specialist – despite a lack of German language skills – or not. Legally, however, there would then no longer be any obstacle to employment in these cases.

“Job Search Opportunity Map”

Finally, the third pillar is about enabling third-country nationals with good potential to stay in Germany in order to find a job. For this purpose, a “chance card for job search” is to be introduced, based on a transparent, unbureaucratic points system, as the key issues paper states. The selection criteria for proof of “good potential” can include qualifications, language skills, professional experience, connection to Germany and age.

The traffic light coalition not only wants to adapt laws. She also wants to promote Germany more – as an attractive, innovative and diverse immigration country. One focus should be on making vacancies known internationally and placing qualified people abroad with employers and educational institutions in Germany. Exactly how this is supposed to happen remains vague.

For example, it is said that the “Make it in Germany” portal has its own job exchange. This should be expanded and further developed. The number of published job offers should be increased. The draft law must then show how this is to succeed. Some things don’t seem to have been finally clarified yet. One wants to check whether pre-integration offers could already be tried out in the countries of origin.

Promote language learning abroad

The government sees the German language as a key competence. Therefore, she wants to promote acquisitions both abroad and domestically. For example, by expanding digital language courses and exams. The Goethe Institutes should play a special role in the countries of origin.

In cooperation with the federal states and chambers, the ministers want to optimize, simplify and accelerate the recognition procedures for foreign professional qualifications. One of the many planned measures is, for example, that the documents for the recognition procedure can also be accepted in English or in the original language.

A lot sounds bureaucratic, for example that administrative procedures should be accelerated. The ideas could certainly bring many advantages for skilled workers from abroad. For example, there should be modern and transparent migration advice for them before they enter the country, as well as a speedy visa process afterwards. Clear information should be provided about the requirements for when partners and children may also enter Germany.