World of HR: New regulations in Germany allow for easier hiring of immigrants

Dua Lipa isn’t the only one shouting about new rules. Germany is set to enact some new (employment) rules starting in November in an attempt to attract foreign workers.

Where in the world? Germany’s federal government approved a new set of laws over the summer known as the Skilled Workers Immigration Act. The legislation amends the Opportunity Residence Act of 2022, and makes it easier for companies to employ workers from outside the EU and for foreign workers to enter and stay in Germany. The country is aiming to attract skilled foreign workers and refugees to its workforce, according to EuroNews.

The legislation could bring up to 60,000 more workers to the country per year, EuroNews reported, which could help alleviate Germany’s ongoing labor shortage in industries including electrical engineering, IT, and healthcare.

As part of the new legislation, Germany will institute a points system to help decide who can enter the country for work purposes. The points are based on factors including a person’s job qualifications (such as training or certificates), professional experience, and connection to the country. People who qualify will receive an opportunity card, or as the government calls it, a “Chancenkarte.” The new legislation also allows some skilled workers to move to Germany before they have a job and stay for up to one year while they look for full-time work.

Also unique to the new system is that there’s more emphasis on experience and less on academic qualifications, Voice of Europe reported. There will also be more visas permitted for workers from the Western Balkans, and it will be easier for workers to bring their families to Germany, according to Euractiv news.

Satellite view. Germany isn’t the first country to use a points system for hiring foreign workers, and its policy somewhat mirrors those in Canada and Australia, according to the EU Migration Law blog. New Zealand and the UK also use points-based (or merit) immigration systems, but the latter requires foreign workers to have a work sponsor, strict salary requirements, and a job “at an appropriate skill level.”

1, 2, 3. More workers may soon move to Germany.