Right-wing extremism makes it difficult to recruit international specialists at Infineon in Dresden

The rise of right-wing extremism in Saxony is making it more difficult to recruit international specialists for the Dresden plant of German chipmaker Infineon. "As a company, we are not able to solve social problems on our own," said human resources manager Silke Gottschlich in an interview with business magazine Capital (Monday). One wishes oneself there "from the policy and from the society a clearly larger contribution".

On the plant premises a zero tolerance policy against discrimination is maintained. But he said the company has no influence on how employees from abroad are received outside the plant gates. "We can't put people in a protective bubble," he said.

Infineon says it is currently seeking about 2,000 new employees to expand chip production in Dresden in the coming years, according to the report. In addition, 2000 skilled workers would be needed for the planned joint factory with TSMC, Bosch and NXP. Gottschlich said Saxony's semiconductor industry, which already employs about 70,000 people, attracts skilled workers.