The German government presented a bill with new rules to simplify and speed up the immigration of skilled workers, in a decision that responds to the labor shortage
In addition to facilitating family reunification and the recognition of professional qualifications, the project includes the introduction of the so-called “opportunity card”, also based on a points system.
Among the criteria taken into account to calculate the number of points for applicants are knowledge of the German language, professional experience, age and having a certain relationship with Germany, the DPA news agency listed.
The card also offers opportunities for trial work or secondary employment. In addition, the change of residence permit to one for work or educational purposes will be allowed.
“This also serves to open up new potential for suitable workers for the German labor market who have not been able to look for work up to now,” the draft states. The objective of the first European economy is to attract more foreign workers, contrary to the rest of the European countries that seek to close their borders to immigration.
“We will make sure that we bring to the country the skilled workers that our economy has been in dire need of for years,” Home Secretary Nancy Faeser said, introducing the bill that has yet to be approved by lawmakers.
The new system will “remove bureaucratic obstacles” and “will allow skilled workers to come to Germany quickly and start” working, he added in statements reproduced by the AFP news agency. Due to the aging of the population, the labor market will lose seven million people by 2035 if the government does nothing, according to a study by the Labor Market Research Institute (IAB). Taking all sectors into account, 44% of German companies questioned by the Ifo Institute say they were affected by the labor shortage in January.
Faced with this critical situation, Chancellor Olaf Scholz encourages workers not to retire early, while companies experience the increasing use of robots such as in elderly care. However, Scholz warned in Parliament at the beginning of the month that turning to the German population “will not be enough” to overcome the deficit.