Job seekers from abroad should be able to come to Germany more easily in the future. A so-called opportunity card should be introduced for this purpose, as announced on Friday 21 October) by government circles in Berlin. This provides for new cornerstones for the immigration of skilled workers, which are now being further coordinated within the federal government.
Overall, the planned law aims to increase the immigration of skilled workers. Germany urgently needs skilled workers across all sectors. Last week, on the occasion of the adoption of a skilled labor strategy in the Federal Cabinet of the German Press Agency, Federal Labor Minister Hubertus Heil (SPD) said that the government wanted to present key points “for a more modern skilled labor immigration law” in the fall. In their coalition agreement, the SPD, Greens and FDP had announced, among other things, that they wanted to establish a further pillar in addition to the existing immigration law with the introduction of an opportunity card.
In addition to specialists and university graduates recognized in Germany and people with potential, another group should be recognized more easily. These are people with two years of experience in the profession to be practiced. They should have a vocational or university degree that is state-recognized in the country in which it was obtained. In the future, however, it should not be necessary for the degree to be recognized as equivalent to a degree in Germany.
The selection criteria for the opportunity card should include qualifications, (a recognized qualification, an employment contract, and employment conditions that are equivalent to those in Germany should continue to apply as prerequisites) language skills, professional experience, and a connection to Germany, according to the key points. The possibility of a two-week trial should be created. In this way, citizens from non-EU countries with good potential who are not already recognized as skilled workers should also be able to stay in Germany. In the future, as a skilled worker, you should be allowed to do any recognized job.
Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock (Greens) said she associated the word “skilled labor immigration” with many faces of young, well-educated people “that I met on my trips abroad”. Heil said the coalition was paving the way “to attract bright minds and helping hands for our job market.” Interior Minister Nancy Faeser (SPD) said: “We want skilled workers to be able to come to Germany quickly and get started.”
Many companies are desperately looking for skilled workers – but people from non-EU countries often find it difficult to get a residence permit in Germany. Is that changing now?