German economy minister slams country’s ‘strict’ immigration authorities

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German immigration authorities may be too hostile to foreigners, making it harder for the country to tackle looming labour shortages, Economy Minister Robert Habeck said on Tuesday, as Germany, like other European countries, desperately needs skilled workers.

Last year, the German economy was short of some 600,000 workers, according to the German Economic Institute (IW), a think tank – a shortage that is only likely to grow as the population ages.

The German government has thus made an effort to attract skilled labour from outside the EU, lowering the requirements for company-issued Blue Card work visas and introducing a new scheme allowing foreign nationals to look for work there.

Facing increasing pressure from shortages, Habeck worries that legislative changes will not have the intended effect, in part due to the past focus of immigration authorities on turning migrants away.

“My greatest concern – if I may say so openly – is that immigration and visa authorities have not yet switched to the new system,” the Green Economy Minister said at a conference of the German Mechanical Engineering Industry Association (VDMA) in Berlin.

Previously, Germany had set up administrative structures that were hostile towards workers from abroad who were perceived as strangers, said Habeck, adding, “now we have to state clearly: now we want them, (…) please approve it.”

His statement echoed Germany’s ongoing struggle with the social challenges of becoming a target of immigration after years of relative seclusion. While Germany needs migrants to tackle labour shortages, a recent surge in irregular migration has been difficult for the country to handle.

Habeck made the case that Germany should also embrace the potential of irregular migrants, as it could hardly afford to be picky or ideologically driven.

“We need all of [those who have proved themselves],” Habeck said.