BERLIN – In a new effort to attract talented foreign workers to the country, Chancellor Olaf Scholz announced plans to reform Germany’s immigration system and citizenship laws.
On Monday, Scholz reiterated his support Interior Minister Nancy Feger’s plans to overhaul rules to make naturalization easier for immigrants who have their is appreciated As playing an integral role in the reconstruction and strengthening of Germany. Naturalization figures are stable in Germany, with 1.3 acquisitions of citizenship per 1,000 persons; According to eurostatWhich is lower than the EU average of 1.6 acquisitions per 1,000.
According to the data analytics firm, 853,315 openings were reported for 2022 at the highest level of job vacancies till October politician — Berlin is looking to high-skilled labor from abroad to fill that gap.
Scholz announced at an event in Berlin that his cabinet would decide on “key points” for skilled labor immigration reform on Wednesday. The chancellor said a “transparent, un-bureaucratic” points-based system would be introduced, as has long been standard practice in other countries. It will also be easier for foreigners to study or take vocational training.
According to Fazer’s plans to reform the citizenship law, immigrants would be allowed dual citizenship. In addition, they would be able to become naturalized Germans in five years instead of eight, according to a 39-page draft of the plan previewed by some. media outlets on Friday. In the case of “special integration achievements” such as voluntary work or exceptional language skills, naturalization would be possible after three years. And children born in Germany to foreign parents can become German if one or both of their parents have had an official residence in Germany for five years instead of eight years.
Scholz said on Monday, “People who live and work here permanently should also be able to vote and be elected … with all the rights and duties.” However, he cautioned that there are limits to the country’s ability to absorb immigrants.
Not everyone is on board with the plans. Criticism comes from the opposition as well as Scholz’s business-friendly coalition partner, the FDP. “Selling German citizenship does not promote integration,” said Alexander Dobrindt, an opposition politician from the centre-right CSU.
Meanwhile, the FDP’s secretary-general, Bijan Jir-Saray, said it was too early for such a far-reaching reform, adding that first, repatriation should be implemented more quickly.
An interior ministry spokesperson reiterated on Monday that the draft law for citizenship reform was “as good as ready”. It will be coordinated within the government “over the next few days” and discussed by the cabinet “soon”.
Responding to criticism from the government’s coalition partners, the spokesman said the draft was “exactly in line” with the coalition agreement.