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Germany – Skills shortages prompt debate on new immigration law

17 April 2015

Germany’s Minister of the Interior, Thomas de Maizière is convinced that Germany does not need new immigration law, but many outside the centre-right are in favour of making it easier for non-EU nationals to enter Germany’s labour market, reports euractiv.com.

Mr de Maizière, a member of Angela Merkel’s Christian Democrats, has adopted a new term for migration: “Need-based management.” Using this new language it has been reported that he intends to allow more people, specifically belonging to occupational groups with skills shortages, to enter the country.

Mr de Maizière cited a study; published by the Bertelsmann Foundation in March 2015, which showed that, by 2050, 29 million people will be of working age, compared with the 45 million today. Without immigration this gap cannot be closed, the report stated.

According to the study, Germany will require as many as 500,000 immigrations each year over the next few decades. Of the 1.23 million people immigrating to Germany in 2013, 60% came from European countries.

However, as soon as the economic situation in countries like Greece, Italy, and Spain improves, it is likely that these workers will return home.

Many people working in Germany who are from outside the EU also do not feel welcome, integrated or supported, according to Nihat Sorgeç, from Berlin-based education institute BWK.

Some experts attribute this to the variety of often confusing guidelines surrounding the immigration process. It remains unclear and far too complicated, Mr Sorgeç explained, to figure out individual cases relating to family reunification, residency and working permits, citizenship, and income requirements.

The Social Democratic Party (SPD), which is currently part of Germany’s so-called “Grand Coalition” with the CDU, is calling for a new immigration law with simpler and more understandable rules.

Thomas Oppermann, Chairman of the SPD Parliamentary Group, said: “The immigration law will come. During the next legislative period at the latest. Well-trained employees from [non-EU] countries should have the opportunity to immigrate legally, instead of entrusting their savings to criminal trafficking networks.”

To do this, transparent rules are needed, he said.

Like the SPD, the Green Party also supports a new law on immigration. Foreign students, apprentices, asylum seekers, and resident aliens should be able to change their legal residency status at their own request and move freely within the labour market. That should also mean that educational degrees and professional qualifications are better recognised.