On Friday, the German parliament passed an immigration regulation to recruit and attract skilled workers from around the world. The country is currently facing a labour shortage; the shortage has reached an all-time high in 2022, as 1.74 million posts are still empty across Germany.
The country’s immigration procedure is affected due to red tape becoming a hurdle in the filling of vacant positions. The DIHK stated earlier this year that more than half of Germany’s businesses were struggling to fill jobs due to an absence of trained workers. With 53% shortages, DIHK reports that 22,000 enterprises have the highest difficulty recruiting professionals.
Thus, Federal Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock stated at a BfAA news conference on January 17, 2023, that updating the visa process would require “turning it upside down.” She and Federal Chancellor Olaf Scholz emphasised reducing bureaucracy and improving technology and system effectiveness.
The plans concerning the revision of Germany’s immigration laws are to make it simpler for third-country nationals. This will enable professionals to work in the country. Moreover, individuals with practical and non-academic skills are given preference under the Skilled Immigration Act.
The SPD, FDP, and Greens supported the new immigration law with 388 YES votes, 234 NO votes, and 31 abstentions. However, the conservative CDU and CSU voted against the bill, arguing that it would make it easier for unskilled workers to enter the workforce.
However, the law’s point system will reduce limits on entry based on professional qualifications, age, and ability to speak the language. It will ultimately result in an additional 60,000 non-EU employees in Germany this year.