Workers in skilled trades will find it easier to find work in Germany
Who will be able to work in Germany?
As reported by Deutsche Welle, the new law on migration of labor from third countries to Germany will provide access to the German labor market for foreigners with completed higher education or vocational education. This education must have been obtained in Germany or recognized in Germany and equated to German education through a special procedure.
Recognition of qualifications
For higher education, this qualification recognition procedure is still relatively simple, as the Bologna Process has greatly simplified the comparison of educational degrees in European countries. But for skilled workers with vocational education, the situation is more complicated and involves additional costs.
Due to the so-called dual education system in Germany, where a person works in their profession already during training, foreign education is often not equated to German education. The verification is carried out by the chambers of commerce and industry of various German states and experts. The direction, scope and structure of the education obtained are taken into account. This is a complex procedure and many applicants do not pass it.
Only IT specialists with at least three years of work experience and a salary offered by the employer in Germany of at least 4,020 euros will not be required to undergo it. In such a case, formal confirmation of qualifications is not required.
Abolition of the "priority" check
Another important innovation is the abolition of the mandatory check by the Federal Employment Agency to determine whether a German or EU citizen candidate is applying for the vacancy that the employer wants to give to a worker from outside the EU. Currently, this norm constitutes a major barrier for workers from third countries – the employer must first check whether other candidates have priority for the available vacancy. However, such a check may be reintroduced if the situation on the labor market in individual regions or in a particular sector requires it.
No more "rare" professions
Whereas until now only workers in so-called rare professions, the list of which is compiled every six months by the Federal Employment Agency, were able to apply for work in Germany, the law no longer defines any particularly in-demand professions. That is, it is not necessary to be an IT specialist or another representative of natural or technical specialties with a particular shortage of personnel in order to immigrate to Germany.
Job search in Germany
In addition, foreigners from outside the EU who know German and have the appropriate qualifications will be allowed to enter Germany to look for work and stay there as job seekers for up to six months. When applying for the corresponding visa, such foreigners must provide documents confirming their education in Germany. They must also prove that they are able to financially support themselves during their stay in Germany.
Such job seekers will not be entitled to any social benefits during their stay in Germany. In this case, the innovations concern people with vocational education, because until now such an opportunity was only available to skilled workers with higher education. It should also be taken into account that such a job seeker must be prepared to prove knowledge of the German language at the level required for the vacancy they are applying for.
Who the German government is betting on
The German government's strategy for attracting specialists from abroad involves cooperation only with interested countries that do not have problems with the outflow of specialists and which have many well-trained professionals. The Federal Employment Agency is focusing on the targeted recruitment of specialists primarily from Asia and South America. The agency has already concluded agreements with the Philippines and Mexico to recruit personnel in the medical field. In the craft sector, there are pilot projects in Bosnia and Herzegovina. It is planned to include Brazil, India, and Vietnam in the list.
Criticism of the bill
On December 16, a high-level meeting took place at the Federal Chancellery in Berlin with the participation of representatives of the government, parliament, federal states, industry and trade unions. The meeting participants discussed how to make the new law on the employment of foreign workers in Germany effective.
There is also criticism of the law. For example, the liberal Free Democratic Party believes that the new law only slightly reduces bureaucratic norms and will not be able to significantly change the situation and really improve conditions for labor migration to Germany. The party believes that Germany needs a points system for migrants similar to the one in Canada.
And the Catholic charitable organization Caritas, for example, points out that the family reunification procedure for workers who have obtained a job in Germany with an average income or lower is often impossible due to high financial requirements. This makes Germany unattractive for migration.