East German Economics and Labor Ministers Want to Facilitate Access to the Labor Market for Foreign Employees

To counteract the shortage of skilled workers, the eastern German ministers of economics and labor want to facilitate access to the labor market for foreign employees. This was announced by the ministers on Wednesday after the first East German meeting of skilled workers in Leipzig. According to a unanimously agreed paper, the ministers demand, among other things, an acceleration and simplification of visa issuance. In addition, the federal government must prioritize the "digitalization of the immigration process."

The meeting with business, trade unions and chambers focused on exchanging ideas and measures to increase the attractiveness of eastern Germany. This requires "good integration and good wages," as Saxony's SPD Economics Minister Martin Dulig said. According to the Federal Government Commissioner for Eastern Germany, Carsten Schneider, regulated labor market integration also leads to greater acceptance of immigration among the population.

Through a "joint shoulder-to-shoulder approach," the aim is to "give eastern Germany the best possible profile in the competition for immigration," stressed the Minister of Labor of Saxony-Anhalt, Petra Grimm-Benne (SPD). However, according to Carsten Schneider, the potential of domestic skilled workers should not be forgotten. This also included young people without school or vocational qualifications and career changers.