From Saturday, June 1st, the third phase comes into force German of the law, the goal of which is to attract foreign experts workforce, which brings numerous benefits for the citizens of the Western Balkans - above all, a double quota of workers from the region who will be able to find employment in Germany more easily.
Last year, the German government introduced a law on the immigration of skilled workers (FEG), the provisions of which come into force gradually.
We are talking about the extension of the law from 2016, which provided citizens of Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, Kosovo, North Macedonia and Serbia with easier access to the German labor market, to some extent independent of formal qualifications, reports Beta.
The law was extended and amended last year and comes into effect in stages. The changes do not apply to jobs, the performance of which is linked by law to the certification of a diploma, for example, academic professions such as medicine or care of the disabled.
By law, anyone who has a professional qualification will be able to perform that job in Germany, and the same applies, without proof, to persons who have worked in their countries for at least two years in a job that requires a state-recognized professional diploma.
A new feature is the "chance card" for job hunting, which is based on the allocation of points according to various criteria, such as qualifications, knowledge of the German or English language, work experience, connections with Germany, age and possibly belonging to a family accompanying a foreign worker. .
The third phase of the law will make it easier for foreign workers who get a job to bring with them not only immediate, but also extended family members. That phase is particularly interesting for experts in craft professions because, among other things, from June 1, the quota for people from the Western Balkans will be doubled from 25.000 to 50.000 workers, announced the central union of German craftsmen, ZDH.
Specifically, this means that 50.000 citizens of Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, Kosovo, North Macedonia and Serbia will have easier access to the German labor market, without proving professional qualifications. In addition, there will be monthly contingents.
The German Federal Employment Agency will grant employment permits in advance, rather than as a post-approval as before, and employers will be able to request the permit online.
As soon as the Agency grants approval, the future worker from the Western Balkans will be able to request a German residence and work visa at the competent consular representation.
However, the benefits will not be valid for the extension of the residence permit, in which case the employee will have to contact the competent administration for foreigners.
ZDH pointed out that the success of the law, which should attract the chronically deficient professional workforce to Germany, largely depends on the speed and efficiency of the institutions.
In order for small businesses to benefit from the regulation for the Western Balkans, fast and efficient administrative procedures must be introduced in "German representative offices abroad and in the German services in charge of foreigners", the association stated. procedures," the association stated.
Tanjug / Ministry of Defense / Marijana JankovićWorkers in Sremska Mitrovica
Germany, a country with a labor shortage
The labor shortage in Germany is visible to the naked eye: in hospitals there is a shortage of doctors of all abilities and nurses, in restaurants of cooks and qualified waiters.
"Vreme" already wrote about the fact that many companies are ready to pay workers premiums of 300 to 4000 euros just to accept the job.
Analysis by employment platform Indeed shows that premiums when changing jobs have increased significantly. In 2019, out of a million job ads on this platform, 3050 ads promised a premium. In 2023, there were 7129 such ads, which is more than double. Even if their share remains low, that trend can be clearly recognized.
Conditions for qualified workers
In the future, foreign skilled workers will have to have a minimum gross salary of around 43.800 euros per year (up to now it was 58.400 euros).
Asylum seekers who entered the country before 29 March 2023 and have qualifications and a job offer will be able to apply for a residence permit as a skilled worker if they withdraw their asylum claim. Until now, they had to leave the country first and then apply for a work visa from abroad.
Anyone who comes to Germany as a highly qualified professional from a country outside the European Union can bring their spouse, children and parents. However, the prerequisite is that the existence of the family is ensured. Parents cannot apply for social assistance.
Photo: Strahinja Aćimović/TanjugA new chance in Germany for our workers
The EU Blue Card and the rule for the Western Balkans
The existing regulation for qualified workers with higher education, such as the EU blue card, continues - the list of the so-called has been expanded. deficit occupations. While before it was only mathematics, computer science, engineering professions and medicine, now it also applies to pharmacists, educators and caregivers.
If employers in Germany and candidates from countries outside the EU enter into a so-called contract on recognition of qualifications, foreign workers will be able to come and work in Germany from March 2024 while the process of recognition of qualifications continues. The stay can be extended up to three years.
