Germany ready to introduce 'opportunity card' to address labor shortage

 

It is now likely to be easier for non-Europeans to work legally in Germany thanks to its own 'opportunity card' which will come into effect later this year.

Germany has long suffered from labor shortages and has encouraged people from other countries to come to it, but changes in its immigration policies have made it easier than ever for non-Europeans to come to Germany. It is expected.

In early September, Germany's Federal Minister of Labor and Social Affairs, Hubertus Heil, announced that a card with a points-based system called the Chansenkart (chance card) would be introduced.

It is similar to the US 'green card' which facilitates the entry of professionals with specialized skills into the US.

The highlight of the Chansenkart is that foreigners will now be able to come to Germany in search of work and will not be required to have a German job in order to obtain a visa.

In order to get a work visa in many countries of the world, it is necessary to have a job offer in the said country.

This means that foreigners no longer need to apply for a job outside of Germany.

Under this new card system, people with at least three of the following four characteristics will be allowed to come and find work in Germany:

-College degree

-Proficiency in German or experience living in Germany

-Three years of work experience

-Under 35 years of age

In addition, they will have to show that they will be able to support themselves until they find a job in Germany.

Why is the law being changed?

Called the 'Engine of Europe', this country has a large number of immigrants. About 20 percent of the population was born abroad, while at least 25 percent have families from elsewhere.

The country has received large numbers of immigrants since the collapse of the Eastern European bloc in the 1970s and early 1990s, and more recently during the Syrian crisis.

Alf Reine, a senior researcher at Germany's Institute of Labor Economics (IZA), said: "Germany's economic boom after the (world) war was due to the influx of large numbers of immigrants."

The biggest problem facing this country right now is an aging population, which will cause fewer people to enter the job market than leave it in the next few years.

"Labor shortages are affecting all sectors of employment in Germany, but the most pressing problems at the moment are scientific and technological," says Wedo Geisthon, who specializes in family policy and immigration at the German Economic Institute (IW), in the fields of medicine and nursing.'

Its effects on the economy

If this issue is not resolved, its impact on the German economy could be catastrophic.

"If large-scale labor shortages are not addressed, it will mean that companies are not able to exploit their full potential," Gaston says. In industry, this will mean the relocation of factories out of the country and a reduction in the supply of goods to Germany.

Alf Rene also agrees.

"In Germany, the youth population and labor shortage were already hindering the growth of the German economy, but now it is being felt regularly. This reduction has now reached the low-wage sectors as well.

In which fields are there opportunities?

Many sectors and companies are affected by the shortage of employees. According to the Association of German Chambers of Commerce and Industry, 56 percent of German companies fear that the lack of qualified employees will affect their business.

"Companies that provide technology services, including the construction and hotel industry, and medical and social services, are the most affected," says Thomas Renner, a spokesman for the association.

According to other local media outlets, the country is also short of electricians, economists, production assistants, sales managers, architects, and civil engineers.

According to Labor Minister Hubertus Heil, these cards will be issued in limited numbers and their number will depend on the needs of the labor market.

"It's still unclear whether Germany will be able to attract young workers," Gaston said.

He said that the German immigration law already has enough scope for those who come here for education and employment, but the administrative procedures are very long and it is sometimes difficult for people outside the country to understand these procedures.'

Language and office delay issues

But many experts agree that the country is facing two major problems that are causing many problems. The first is the language problem and the second problem is the administrative problems that stand in the way of checking a university or other educational certificate.

"The German language is a great difficulty and a barrier to international competition," says Alf René.

On the issue of language, he says that if it cannot be solved completely, it can certainly be reduced to some extent.

"Also, Germany is very reluctant to accept credentials from abroad."

"The process must be speeded up and digitized and the regulatory hurdles reduced because the German standards are not necessarily the same everywhere in the world," says Alf René.

Apart from this, there is another problem that Germany will face in the atmosphere of international competition.

"Other countries have a shortage of highly educated skilled workers and are also interested in them," says Gaston. English-speaking countries have the advantage that most highly educated people around the world speak good English anyway.

Small companies, big business

Germany in particular has many companies that employ 100 to 200 people and that, despite their small size, compete in the international market and export.

The country's business sector is largely based on small and medium-sized companies, and according to experts, they contribute 25 percent to the German economy.

These are often family businesses known for long-term projects, strong investment in training their staff, a high sense of social responsibility, and a wide regional presence.

Source: BBC