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February 23, 2012
New law eases job market for immigrants
Published: 4 Nov 11 13:55 CET
Online: http://www.thelocal.de/national/20111104-38665.html
A new law designed to force German employers to recognize foreign qualifications passed its final hurdle in the German parliament, the Bundesrat, on Friday.
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In a government statement, Schavan called the law “an important sign with a view to the shortage of skilled labour,” and a “milestone in integration policy.”
The law has endured an arduous process in coming to fruition. Although there was cross-party agreement that red tape had to be cut, opposition parties wanted to provide more help for foreigners than the government.
Schavan was opposed to the Social Democratic Party’s suggestion that immigrants should have the automatic right to study for further vocational qualifications in Germany. Schavan told Die Welt newspaper ahead of Friday’s vote that Germans “would rightly feel themselves discriminated against” if that were allowed.
The row briefly threatened to derail the new law, because the government coalition of the Christian Democratic Union (CDU) and the Free Democratic Party (FDP) does not have a majority in the upper house of Germany’s parliament.
The government-affiliated Institute for Employment Research (IAB) says there are 2.8 million immigrants in Germany with qualifications, including 800,000 with university degrees. Many of them are forced to work in jobs they are over-qualified for because Germany does not recognize their academic certificates.
Many economists believe that this means Germany is depriving itself of valuable labour and expertise sorely needed in industry.
According to a government statement, up to 300,000 people could benefit directly from the law passed Friday.
DPA/The Local/bk
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Your comments about this article:
@ATM, cause they are lazy and incapable, but somehow they want to have money, and not having it, they "occupy" )))
Did Herman's nuts dry up or what?
Firstly, Germany has an unemployment rate of 6.6, that's one of the lowest in the world.
Secondly, even if Germany had high unemployment, that's no reason to deprive the work force of highly skilled workers, which a country would especially lack with masses of people in poorer economic situations. Thankfully Germany does not have to deal with this and is simply trying to attract more skilled labour.
He was always pointing out his certificate to show how smart he was, but I thought to myself, "You're not very smart at all if you can't figure out you don't have money because you refuse to work!" I know that's not the real equation, but that he didn't want to, he'd rather play his guitar all day.
I've a degree, and will receive another in 2012, will be nice to at least POSSIBLY finally be allowed to work in my field here.
However many professions require a state license (obvious example are physicians).
Its funny that the government is creating a two step system and (a new Behoerde): "apply for license with your degree certification, oh wait, first apply for your degree certification".
What is a milestone? is it longer or shorter than a kilometrestone?
My partner and I have discussed immigrating to Germany and at 60, he wants to put in a few more years working with solar architecture,--an area in which Germany excels. He's multiple advanced degrees as do I, and we would both welcome the chance to work, integrate and yes, even pay taxes.
Any legislation passed which makes this easier would benefit Germany enormously since many--like ourselves--don't see a future in the US and certainly don't want to lay on a beach in Thailand waiting for death. We want to work, grow and make positive contributions to a dynamic society.
I think the point is in this new millennium the national state is very much people of one or complimentary states of mind, not merely people of similar birth. Nations which recognize this will benefit, those who don't, will fall behind in the increasingly competitive race towards implementing science and innovation.