Germany: debate over a more efficient law on economic immigration

The 2015 mass influx of war related refugees meant that Germany’s authorities had to temporarily leave aside the issue of economic immigration, which is managed within the scope of the rather inefficient European Blue Card Provision. However, given the shortage of qualified manpower and the unfavorable demographic situation, Germany’s social-democrats, ecologists and the wider economic community are looking to return to the issue. On 07 November, the SPD even presented a draft law to this effect that includes a points system selection process. While the economics contingent within the Conservative Party has said it welcomes this position, certain leaders on the right fear that such a system will trigger populist rhetoric.
Enjoy this article for free while you’re in your trial period
You have access to our content for 1 month.

A shortage of manpower despite immigration. Knocked off front stage for a while by the refugee crisis, the issue of skilled manpower has resurfaced in Germany, and with it has the debate over implementing measures to better manage economic immigration. The fact that 890,000 asylum seekers entered Germany in 2015 might have led one to suggest that its manpower shortage problems were over. However after several months of trial and error, it is clear that a good proportion of these asylum seekers

Do you have information to share with us?
What you absolutely must read this week
The essential content of the week selected by the editorial team.
See all
2026 TRENDS — Tackling skills shortages and mismatches
mind HR is analysing the trends that will shape 2026. Skills shortages have become a central challenge for businesses, reflecting deep-seated shifts in the labour market as roles evolve rapidly...
Italy: government kicks off transposition of EU Pay Transparency Directive
On 5 February, the Italian government approved legislation transposing the EU Pay Transparency Directive, designed to tackle gender pay discrimination — a particularly acute issue in Italy. The...
10 February 2026
Romania: government imposes strict controls on labour immigration
On 26 January, the Romanian government adopted an emergency ordinance tightening the rules on the recruitment of foreign workers. The measure introduces an official list of labour shortage...
Germany: standoff over national plan to boost collective bargaining
Under the EU Adequate Minimum Wages Directive, Germany is required to produce an action plan to boost collective bargaining coverage. That plan has stalled, however, after being blocked by the...
9 February 2026
Most viewed articles of the month on mind HR
What readers clicked on the most last month.
What readers clicked on the most last month.
1
Oliver Dietrich (IG Metall): “The advent of AI can be a means of deepening social partnership within companies”
In Germany, trade unions want to influence how AI is deployed in companies. Oliver Dietrich is an AI project manager at the regional office of the IG Metall trade union in North Rhine-Westphalia...
2
EU: social partners split over competitiveness and action on job quality
The European Trade Union Confederation and BusinessEurope have published their response to the consultation document on the European Commission's upcoming EU quality jobs initiative. The two...
4 February 2026
3
Germany: collective bargaining negotiations begin in chemical industry
Collective bargaining talks in Germany’s chemical and pharmaceutical industries are due to open this week, covering nearly 580,000 employees across around 1,700 companies. With the sector facing...
3 February 2026
4
Germany: standoff over national plan to boost collective bargaining
Under the EU Adequate Minimum Wages Directive, Germany is required to produce an action plan to boost collective bargaining coverage. That plan has stalled, however, after being blocked by the...
9 February 2026
5
Italy: new generational renewal agreement penned at UniCredit
The agreement signed on 30 December by UniCredit, Italy’s second-largest banking group, with the Fabi, First-Cisl, Fisac-Cgil, Uilca and Unisin trade unions aims to continue generational...
6
ENI incorporates just transition and AI into global agreement
On 13 January, Italian energy group ENI renewed its global agreement on international industrial relations, corporate social responsibility and the just transition with Italian unions CGIL, CISL...
5 February 2026