How German ministers want to boost skilled migration and integration

At a time when populism and anti-migrant sentiment is on the rise in Germany, the Conference of Integration Ministers (IMK) sought to reaffirm the importance of immigration in German society.

Following the two-day meeting in Göttingen on Wednesday and Thursday, the ministers unanimously adopted a motion titled "Living Together, Working Together" to demonstrate their commitment to diversity.

In it, the state leaders emphasise that everyone - regardless of their background - should be able live together in peace and security and participate in society.

According to the ministers, active participation in working life is a key part of this goal.

The immigration of skilled workers should be promoted just as much as the education and utilisation of the domestic workforce, argued Lower Saxony's integration minister and conference chair Dr. Andreas Philippi.

“In order for this to succeed, advisory and support structures for the immigration and recruitment of skilled workers must be strengthened,” he said. 

READ ALSO: Where to get free immigration advice in Germany

Here are some of the key policies set forward at this year's conference.

Recognising the value of immigration

Due to demographic changes - and particularly the aging population - the IMK motion highlights the importance of foreign workers within the German economy.

“Unfortunately, the current public debate focuses on the challenges of migration," said Philippi. "This one-sided perspective leads to an increase in resentment toward people with a migration background and undermines their trust in our state and society. Yet we depend on migration if we want to defend our prosperity.”

According to Philippi, the public discussion should be more pragmatic and instead focus on the "opportunities of immigration".

The conference also pledged to recognise the contribution made by guest workers from countries like Turkey, Spain, Italy and Greece as part of Germany's immigration history.

More women in the labour force

In future, the ministers want to see a much higher proportion of migrant women participating in the workforce. 

“In all measures, the specific needs and competencies of immigrant women must be taken into account structurally, as their employment rate remains significantly lower than that of immigrant men even after several years of residence," said Stefanie Drese, the integration minister for Mecklenburg Western-Pomerania.

“We need new formats of job placement, stronger cooperation with businesses, and better integration management.”

Drese also highlighted the importance of services such as regional 'Welcome Centres', which help foreigners get set up on arrival in the country. A number of these have already been set up in cities like Berlin, Hamburg, Freiburg, Essen, Stuttgart, Heildelberg and Munich. 

READ ALSO: How Munich wants to make settling in Germany easier for non-EU skilled workers

Stable funding from the federal government

With a new CDU/CSU and SPD coalition entering office on May 6th, state ministers are calling on the government to stump up more financial support.

"At the very least, however, there must be no more debates about financial cuts, as was the case in the past," said Philippi. "The federal states and local authorities need planning security here."

However, the ministers also state in their resolution that integration is a joint responsibility between the national government, states, local districts, businesses and civil society. 

Better integration services for foreigners

To ensure a smoother journey for internationals moving to Germany, the conference is eyeing a number of improvements to integration services.

One proposal is for needs-based funding for migration counselling, allowing foreigners easier access to advice and personalised support.

READ ALSO: The organisations in Germany that are helpful for foreign residents

The ministers are also keen to improve access to the labour market and boost the provision of language courses for foreigners.

The ministers also celebrated a number of successes in immigration policy over the past year, including the introduction of Germany's dual nationality law, lower residence requirements for naturalisation, and the opportunity for people on temporary permits to take part in integration courses.