On Friday, June 23, the German parliament passed legislation aimed at expanding job opportunities for non-EU job seekers and refugees within the country. The new immigration law reform is intended to attract more individuals from outside the European Union to work in Germany. Interior Minister Nancy Faeser, representing the center-left Social Democrats (SPD), emphasized that the new law would contribute to Germany's prosperity, but emphasized the need to eliminate bureaucratic hurdles during its implementation. She highlighted the issue of having to fill out numerous applications to bring a new care worker into the country as unacceptable.
While some opposition parties supported certain aspects of the government's proposals, they criticized the plans to lower qualification requirements for foreign workers. Concerns were raised that reducing the level of German language skills required could lead to an influx of low-skilled workers and degrade Germany's workforce quality.
A significant innovation introduced by the law is the introduction of an "opportunity card" and a points system associated with it. This card allows foreigners who do not have a job lined up to come to Germany for a year to search for employment. To qualify for the card, applicants must have a vocational qualification or a university degree.
The opportunity card will be awarded based on fulfilling specific conditions, with applicants earning points for criteria such as language skills in German and/or English, existing connections to Germany, and the potential for their partners or spouses to find employment in the German labor market.
Individuals with the opportunity card will be permitted to engage in part-time work for up to 20 hours a week while searching for a qualified job, as well as participate in probationary employment. Additionally, individuals on tourist visas will not be required to leave the country before returning for employment purposes.
Under the new law, skilled immigrants will no longer need to have their degrees recognized in Germany if they can demonstrate at least two years of professional experience and possess a degree recognized by their country of origin. This change allows individuals with a job offer to come to Germany and start working while their degree recognition process is ongoing.
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