Immigration: influx of skilled workers from outside the EU made easier

The German government wants to fill the ever-growing gap in skilled workers in Germany with many more workers from abroad in the future. Unlike today, non-EU citizens without recognized qualifications are to be allowed to come to Germany to a greater extent. The selection criteria are to include professional experience or a connection to Germany. The federal cabinet has just approved the corresponding key points. Four cabinet members strongly advocated the planned law - especially to the CDU/CSU, which had recently strongly criticized the traffic light's migration policy. Business and trade unions welcomed the plans, reports Deutsche Presse-Agentur. Probably the biggest change is to make it possible for so-called "third-country nationals with good potential" to enter the country to look for a job. An opportunity card is to be issued for this purpose. According to Heil, this card will be issued to those who meet three of five criteria. The criteria are: Qualification, language skills, work experience, connection to Germany and age. But exactly what such a reference should be and how many points there are for which language level is still open. It is being considered that multiple trips to Germany, a job with a German employer abroad or relatives in Germany could count. In the future, recognized foreign specialists should also be able to work in professions that have little or nothing to do with their training. Recognition of the qualification acquired in the country of origin is not to be mandatory before entry. Employers should have a greater say in deciding whether they need someone and whether they can then stay. Image: IMAGO / photothek (Michael Gottschalk)