'Germany needs you': Labour Minister's plea to skilled workers from India

As Germany faces an ever-growing worker shortage, politicians are trying to pull out all the stops. 

They are looking abroad in a bid to get more people into the labour market and social security system.

In the last few years, Labour Minister Hubertus Heil has been focusing on a handful of countries including India and Brazil to increase immigration. And last week, Heil announced that a new 'skilled labour strategy' is to be presented at the Indian-German consultations in autumn.

The aim is to smooth out the visa process to allow the recruitment of skilled worker immigrants on a large scale.

The Social Democrat politician made the announcement following a meeting with a small group of Indian students at the Free University in Berlin.

"This skilled labour strategy will be developed together with the Foreign Office and the Ministry of Labour, with German industry, and with the states and with other ministries," said Heil. The aim is to send a "clear signal to India that bright minds and helping hands are welcome in Germany".

Heil, who also visited India a year ago, said the strategy would look at "how we deal with the acceleration of visa issuance, how we deal with the issue of recruitment in various areas, what tasks the economy has, what initiatives the various federal states also have".

READ ALSO: Indians in Germany - Who are they and where do they live?

Germany 'dependent on more immigration'

During the exchange with Indian students in Berlin last Thursday, Heil said the German labour market is facing major challenges due to the country's demographic structure. Germany will need seven million skilled workers by 2035 to meet demand, said the SPD politician, citing a study by the Institute for Employment Research (IAB).

"Due to demographic changes, Germany is dependent on more immigration," said Heil, as reported by German newspaper Welt. He said it was great that German universities are becoming increasingly popular with students from abroad, but added: "people also need to stay." 

It's no surprise that Heil is singling out this this group. Figures from the Federal Statistical Office and the German Economic Institute (IW) show that in 2023 alone, the number of Indians in Germany increased by 36,391.

The Indian population in Germany is also well qualified - 56 percent of employees from India work in 'expert' jobs, which typically require a degree or special training, data from the IW shows. That's compared to 17.7 percent among other immigrant populations, and 30.5 percent among Germans.

There are nearly 43,000 Indian students throughout Germany, with almost 300 of them at Freie Universität Berlin.

But as many countries grapple with a labour shortage, Indians are in demand around the world - especially in English-speaking countries where they can find jobs more easily.

'Please stay'

Students cited the German healthcare system, opportunities for a better salary and the quality of life as advantages of Germany.

But there were plenty of concerns raised with Heil, including bureaucracy, the level of digitalisation and concerns about scientific research prospects. 

Others reported practical issues. Some students said they had been searching for accommodation for months in Germany, whereas in India, universities would offer accommodation.

Heil listened carefully and admitted that Germany needs "an update".

Germany has brought in a number of sweeping changes to immigration laws recently.

In November 2023, the government introduced the first phase of its new skilled worker law, with lower salary thresholds for Blue Card applicants and more flexibility for skilled workers to work in a range of professions.

In March this year, Germany brought in more big changes to immigration rules, including quicker routes to permanent residence, amendments to make it easier for healthcare workers from outside the EU to move to Germany and relaxed family reunification rules. This was a controversial move because the new family rules only apply to workers coming to Germany after March and not those already here. 

And in June Germany launched the 'opportunity card' visa, known as the Chancenkarte. 

This is a 'jobseekers' visa' allowing eligible skilled workers from outside the EU to move to Germany for up to a year to look for a job. They are also able to work up to 20 hours a week while they do so. 

READ ALSO: How Germany's opportunity card will allow easier entries for foreign workers from June

But there is still some way to go to convince foreign nationals - including students from India - that Germany should be their top choice for settling down abroad.

At the end of the conversation, Heil issued a plea to the group, spelling out what he hoped for. "Please stay. Germany needs you," he said. 

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