For the first time, the Federal Republic of Germany will adopt an Immigration Law
As "Russkaya Germaniya" notes, in essence this means that one will be able to enter Germany either as a hired worker from a third country or as an asylum seeker. And it will hardly be possible to change one's status while staying in the country.
Many details of the agreement worked out, which in its main points has already been approved at a meeting of Angela Merkel's cabinet, have not yet been fully worked out. However, the principles of the new legislation seem clear: it is about regulated labor immigration oriented to the needs of the German economy.
Of course, first and foremost, the country is still interested in attracting highly qualified personnel, people who, in addition to higher education, also have solid professional experience. But such labor immigrants from third countries, with the support of some immigration programs, have already been able to enter and work in the Federal Republic for several years. Under the "Blue Card" program alone, 80,000 specialists have already entered Germany.
A new element in the law is the possibility of employment in Germany for unskilled workers as well. Cooks, bakers, repairmen, electricians, and so on – all these professions, according to the new legislation, should also get the opportunity to settle in Germany. All restrictions by profession that were previously imposed by the Federal Employment Agency are lifted. This is a fundamental innovation.
It is assumed that even to search for a job, such specialists will be able to obtain a six-month German visa. This visa may, but is not required to, be issued by German consular offices in third countries. Most likely, the main condition for obtaining it will be the availability of a specific job.
Other prerequisites, it is claimed, will be the availability of sufficient financial means to stay in Germany for six months, knowledge of the German language acquired at home, an impeccable "track record," and solid work experience that can be documented at the German consulate. It is clear that such labor immigrants will not be entitled to receive any social benefits in Germany.
As German Minister of Economics Peter Altmaier stated, the new rules for the first time give Germany the opportunity to "adequately respond to the needs of individual sectors of the economy and fill vacant jobs." The minister recalled that according to the German Chamber of Commerce and Industry, the country currently lacks 1.6 million employees.
The program to attract low-skilled specialists is limited to five years. It is not yet clear whether specialists brought into the country will have to return home after this period. The question of whether such a labor immigrant's family can also come to Germany has not been clarified either.
In the new immigration legislation concerning the granting of asylum, clear criteria are defined for the right to stay in the country for those unrecognized refugees who support themselves through work and are at the same time well integrated into German society. According to the new plans, a temporary suspension of deportation in such cases may well be replaced by a secure residence permit in Germany.
However, for people from those countries that the Federal Republic has officially recognized as "safe," such rules will not apply. At least, that was stated by the head of the Ministry of Internal Affairs, CSU representative Horst Seehofer.
Based on information that has reached the press, the draft immigration law approved by the Federal Cabinet is still quite raw and requires serious refinement. However, politicians from the ruling coalition apparently do not intend to wait. After all, state elections in Bavaria and Hesse are imminent. So both the "blacks" and the "reds" urgently need to demonstrate to voters their efficiency and desire to solve the country's pressing problems.
It is not surprising that the draft of the new law will be submitted to the Bundestag before Christmas, and it is expected to be adopted at the beginning of next year.