Berlin On Wednesday, the federal cabinet passed the cornerstones for modernizing the immigration law for skilled workers. “It will be Europe’s most modern law on immigration,” said Interior Minister Nancy Faeser (SPD) at a joint press conference with three cabinet colleagues.
Research Minister Bettina Stark-Watzinger (FDP) referred to around two million unfilled jobs in Germany. Economics Minister Robert Habeck (Greens) emphasized that Germany would not make any progress in economic policy without immigration. The task of securing skilled workers has “the highest political priority from the point of view of the economy and from the point of view of the Minister for Economic Affairs”.
The idea that skilled workers who wanted to go to Germany would stand in line, so to speak, was “an illusion,” said Heil. Therefore, to secure prosperity and old-age provision, one must specifically advertise for them.
What exactly does the government plan to do with immigration? Answers to key questions:
How dependent is Germany on immigration?
In an international comparison, the German population is one of the oldest; for demographic reasons alone, the potential labor force will fall by seven million people by 2035, said Daniel Terzenbach, board member of the Federal Employment Agency (BA), on Wednesday.
Research Minister Stark-Watzinger referred to calculations by the Institute for Labor Market and Vocational Research (IAB), according to which – in addition to the domestic potential – a net 400,000 people must immigrate every year in order to keep the workforce constant. The strong growth in employment that Germany has seen in recent years was primarily driven by immigrants.
What will change for immigrants with a recognized professional qualification?
In the future, skilled workers with a recognized professional qualification will be able to carry out any qualified activity – even in a different field. For example, a mechanic can also work as a logistics specialist if the employer is convinced of his qualifications. The traffic light coalition wants to lower the required salary thresholds for the so-called EU Blue Card, which highly qualified immigrants with a university degree can apply for.
The minimum salary limit for the EU Blue Card is currently EUR 56,400 gross per year. A reduced annual minimum gross salary of EUR 43,992 applies to jobs in the fields of mathematics, IT, natural sciences, engineering and medicine. The traffic light is now planning to lower the salary thresholds to 1.25 times the average annual gross salary or 1.0 times. This currently corresponds to 48,626 euros or 38,901 euros.
Read more about immigration and skills shortages here
What about immigrants who have a job offer but do not yet have a professional qualification recognized in Germany?
Here the federal government relies on professional experience. Anyone who has a professional qualification that is state-recognized in their home country and has gained at least two years of experience should be allowed to take a job in Germany. Exceptions are regulated professions for which a special license is required in addition to a degree, such as doctors or lawyers.
However, the government wants to set a salary threshold to ensure that qualified workers do not end up in unskilled jobs. It should be 45 percent of the contribution assessment limit in the statutory pension insurance, in the coming year this corresponds to an annual income of at least 39,420 euros.
If the salary threshold is not reached, the foreign worker and the employer can agree on a “recognition partnership”. It is then possible to start work from day one, and the necessary post-qualification or recognition procedures run in parallel. The traffic light coalition wants to lower the salary thresholds and required language skills for IT specialists.
What is the point system?
The coalition also wants to allow immigrants who do not yet have an employment contract to enter the country. This “potential pillar” of their immigration strategy is particularly controversial, but above all a concern of the FDP, which refers to role models such as Canada.
Interested parties can collect points on an opportunity card. According to the key points, the relevant criteria include qualifications, language skills, professional experience, age and connection to Germany, for example the question of whether relatives already live in this country. Foreigners with a professional qualification recognized in Germany should receive the opportunity card without any further requirements.
>> Read here: Guest commentary by the Federal Ministers Nancy Faeser and Hubertus Heil – How we can attract more foreign skilled workers
Can migrants also come to do an apprenticeship in Germany?
Yes, that is expressly desired, and the traffic light wants to further lower the hurdles. For example, it should be examined whether immigration to look for a training place can be made easier, for example by adjusting the age limit, the required language level or the required school-leaving certificate.
In addition, the priority test for foreign prospective trainees is to be abolished, so the Federal Employment Agency does not first have to check whether a candidate from Germany or an EU country can be found for the apprenticeship position.
The possibilities to work parallel to your studies or to a language course or to complete an internship should be expanded. However, it would also make sense to recruit trainees from third countries in a targeted manner, recommends the German Economic Institute (IW): “Germany must not forget that international competition is fierce.”
What hurdles remain?
Opposition leader Friedrich Merz complains that Germany is not making full use of the existing potential offered, for example, by free movement in Europe. Bureaucracy and high taxes deterred EU citizens, said the CDU boss on ZDF.
In addition, thousands of people were waiting abroad for visas for Germany. In fact, the long visa and recognition procedures are a major obstacle to immigration. The key points here only state that the government will bring together all the authorities involved in the visa procedure, such as the diplomatic missions, the immigration authorities, the BA and the professional recognition offices, “in order to identify any difficulties that still exist in the procedures and to jointly develop good and sustainable solutions”.
Greater digitization is intended to speed up the process. In a statement on the key points, the National Regulatory Control Council (NKR) is in favor of further bundling responsibility for the recognition of foreign professional qualifications.
A central federal authority for the immigration of skilled workers could build up the technical competence required for this. This could also issue the announced opportunity card for job hunting.
Making immigration into the labor market easier and less complicated must be a common concern, said Employer President Rainer Dulger. “Politicians are now setting the right course for this.”
More: The immigration illusion – why more immigration won’t save us from labor shortages