The initiators of the program were Labor Minister Olaf Scholz and Interior Minister Wolfgang Schäuble. Scholz stated that it is a 'modern concept' that will help Germany take a 'first-class position in the international competition for heads'. In technical sectors alone, there is a chronic shortage of 400,000 workers. The sectors suffering most acutely from the lack of 'brains' are those related to information technology.
Germans are opening the door wider for highly qualified specialists, who will be able to come both from EU countries and from other states. But barriers against the influx of cheap labor are becoming stronger. This will affect labor migrants from Central European countries that joined the EU on May 1, 2004, as well as from Bulgaria and Romania, which joined the single Europe later. It was assumed that the restrictions would remain until May 2009, but the German authorities extended them for another two years, stressing, however, that this was done 'for the last time'.
Specialists with university degrees are a different matter. Now, such migrants from countries outside the EU, including from countries of the former Soviet Union, are offered new incentives. Specialists whose employment contract with a German company provides for an income of at least €63,600 per year will be able to settle in Germany immediately with their families, obtaining a residence permit. Household members will no longer be required to pass an elementary German language exam. Previously, a foreigner applying for permanent residence had to earn at least €86,400 per year.
The Ministry of Labor is now more favorably disposed towards 'academics' – as Germans call university graduates from countries of the eastern part of the EU. Starting January 1, 2009, it will become even easier for them to find employment in Germany. Currently, in this area, the requirement of priority hiring of German citizens or 'old' EU member states' citizens is still in effect. Only if a German or Dutch candidate cannot be found for a vacancy will a Pole or Czech be hired. From the new year, the candidacies of 'new Europeans' will be considered on an equal footing with local personnel. But restrictions will remain for specialists from countries outside the EU if they earn less than the aforementioned €63,600 per year.
For those with a university diploma in their pocket, it will become easy to enter Germany in the future,' Minister Scholz promised. However, business representatives and the Federal Employment Agency, even before the approval of the 'Action Program', demanded a reduction of the minimum annual income level for migrants from non-European countries to €45,000. 'I would like to see more courage from the government. Germany urgently needs both skilled workers and apprentices for vocational training,' said Ludwig Georg Braun, head of the Chamber of Commerce and Industry. 'The same United Kingdom made its labor market more open earlier than others and remained at an advantage.' He recalled that 'the demographic situation in Germany is worsening,' 'many places in vocational schools remain unfilled,' which leads to a shortage of technical workers.