The FDP advocates for the introduction of more foreign workers into the nation.
The FDP advocates for the introduction of more foreign workers into the nation.
Recent policies have sparked a notable surge in Western Balkan labor migrants heading to Germany. The FDP is thrilled and demands an increase in the quota, even going so far as to explore possibilities beyond Eastern Europe.
As per "New Osnabrücker Zeitung", the number of work permits issued to individuals from six Western Balkan countries increased significantly from July to December, reaching nearly 25,000 - the same number as in the entire previous year. This information was disclosed by the German Federal Ministry of Labour in response to a query from the FDP faction.
This indicates that the annual quota of 50,000 labor migrants, set by the current coalition government, was fully utilized within the first six months. Majority of these migrants hailed from Kosovo (5564) and Serbia (4239), according to reports.
FDP faction vice-chairman Konstantin Kuhle now suggests not only increasing the quota further, but also simplifying the work immigration process for individuals from various large countries. Kuhle stated to the "NOZ" that the objective of the Western Balkan regulation is to minimize unregulated immigration into the asylum system by providing an accessible entry to the German job market.
Kuhle suggests applying this regulation to other countries from which people currently file asylum requests, despite their actual intention being to join the German labor market. According to Kuhle, countries such as India, Vietnam, Brazil, South Africa, Indonesia, Morocco, Colombia, Ecuador, Ghana, the Philippines, and Uzbekistan could potentially be considered.
Qualification-free Visa
Since 2016, the Western Balkan regulation has allowed citizens of Serbia, Albania, Bosnia-Herzegovina, North Macedonia, Montenegro, and Kosovo to apply for a visa to work in Germany, regardless of their qualifications.
A specific job offer or already agreed employment contract is necessary for obtaining this visa. However, these visas were initially limited to a quota of 25,000 per year, which was raised to 50,000 by the Skilled Workers Immigration Act to tackle labor shortages.
The surge in labor migrants from the Western Balkan region has put the annual quota of 50,000 labor migrants under strain, with nearly half of it being utilized within the first six months of the year. The FDP, with Kuhle as their faction vice-chairman, advocates for not only increasing this quota but also simplifying the work immigration process for individuals from multiple large countries, such as India and Vietnam, to minimize unregulated immigration and promote access to the German job market.
Thus, the economy of Germany, being heavily influenced by the labor market, is undergoing significant changes due to these migration policies and the corresponding shifts in the workforce composition.