Towards agreements on skilled labor: Germany in negotiations with six countries, including Morocco

Europe is at a critical crossroads when it comes toimmigration and labor. With an ageing population and an economy that increasingly demands specialized skills, countries like theGermany face a major challenge in ensuring a continuous supply of skilled workers. The shortage of skilled labor is not just a temporary problem, but a challenge that is forecast to affect Germany for decades to come. As you can see, this is not an isolated issue, but one that demands careful thought, meticulous planning and resolute action.

With this in mind, theGermany takes proactive steps to attract foreign talent by entering into negotiations with six countries, including Morocco, Georgia, Moldova, Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan and Kenya. The aim of these negotiations is to conclude migration agreements that will enable Germany to attract skilled workers while managing and regulating irregular immigration.

The shortage of skilled labor is not a new problem, but it has taken on added importance in light of recent demographic and economic changes. All in all, Germany's response to this challenge will be crucial not only for its economic future, but also for its position as a leader within the European Union.

Negotiations with six countries, including Morocco, for Migration Agreements

Germany is currently negotiating migration agreements with six nations, including Morocco. The aim of these agreements is twofold: on the one hand, to attract skilled workers, and on the other, to manage irregular immigration.

Georgia, Moldova, Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan, Kenya and Morocco are among the countries under discussion. All in all, these negotiations demonstrate Germany's determination to work with various nations to tackle migration issues together.

At a recent press conference in Berlin, German Foreign Minister, Heiko Maas and his Moroccan counterpart, Nasser Bouritaunderlined the importance of these exchanges. In our globalized world, diplomacy is crucial to finding solutions to the complex challenges of migration.

Germany also emphasizes the importance of maintaining discretion during negotiations. This is often necessary to ensure the ground is laid for constructive debate and balanced agreements.

The German newspaper "Tagesspiegel" quoted a spokesman for the Federal Ministry of the Interior on Wednesday, August 9, 2023, as saying, "It is possible to mention the ongoing talks in Georgia, Moldova, Uzbekistan and Kyrgyzstan, and the preparations for talks with Kenya and Morocco," pointing out that the drafting of immigration agreements in many cases requires confidentiality.

Schulz: Skill shortages, a long-term challenge

During a visit to the Sealable Solutions company in Waltershausen, Thuringia, East Germany, Schultz said today, Thursday August 10, 2023, that one of the main tasks over the next ten or twenty years, and perhaps even the next thirty, will be to exploit every capacity to ensure that every young person receives vocational training.

The German Chancellor, Olaf Scholzhighlights the shortage of skilled labor as one of the major challenges facing Germany in the decades ahead. This concern reflects the need to ensure a sufficient supply of skilled workers to support the economy.

The Skilled Worker Migration Act, if implemented, will be just one response to this problem. It could help fill the gap by attracting foreign skills and offering solid vocational training to young people.

Scholz also stresses the need to train existing workers. We need to learn how to offer continuous learning and professional development opportunities to maintain a skilled workforce.

The Chancellor's outlook is positive on the forthcoming implementation of the law, which could mark a change in the way Germany deals with labor shortages.

The Vision of Employers in Germany

Rainer Dulger, President of the German Employers' Confederation, also stresses the need to attract technical talent from abroad. Most of us will understand that this is an important step towards solving the labor shortage. That said, he calls for a broader approach than just the Skilled Migration Act to tackle this complex problem.