The German parliament has given the green light to immigration reforms that aim to entice skilled workers to the country by reducing barriers for work visas based on professional qualifications, age, and language skills.
With Germany currently facing an unparalleled labor shortage, the legislation, introduced by the governing center-left coalition consisting of the Social Democrats, the liberal Free Democrats, and the Greens, received 388 votes in favor, while 234 lawmakers opposed it, and 31 abstained, during the vote on Friday.
The legislation faced opposition from a conservative parliamentary bloc consisting of the Christian Democratic Union and its Bavarian counterpart, the Christian Social Union, who voted against it on the grounds that it would facilitate the entry of unskilled laborers. Similarly, the far-right Alternative for Germany party also opposed the legislation.
The law introduces a points-based system that reduces the barriers for work visa applicants based on factors such as professional qualifications, age, and language skills. This year, the Association of German Chambers of Commerce and Industry (DIHK) reported that over half of German companies were struggling to fill job vacancies due to a scarcity of skilled workers.
The DIHK survey, conducted among 22,000 companies,
revealed that the proportion of companies facing challenges in hiring reached
its highest level ever, with 53% reporting a shortage of workers.
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