Germany has decided to open its doors to 250,000 skilled and semi-skilled workers from Kenya under a controlled and targeted labour migration agreement, the BBC reports. The labour market there needs hands to work.
A labor agreement to accept 250,000 Kenyan workers was signed in Berlin by German Chancellor Olaf Scholz and Kenyan President William Ruto. Germany agreed to relax some immigration rules to allow Kenyans to find work in Europe's largest economy.
Lack of prospects for young Africans
Kenya is facing increasing difficulties in providing work and sufficient wages for young professionals, while Germany is struggling with a skills shortage.
The agreement concluded by the Germans is one of the key actions of the government to limit immigration. The agreement will not only allow for the controlled admission of foreign workers, but will also allow for repatriation, i.e. sending back people staying in the country without legal permission.
As the BBC reports, “immigration is currently a huge issue in Germany, following the rise in popularity of the far-right anti-immigration party Alternative for Germany (AfD)”.
During the 2015-2016 migration crisis, Germany took in about a million people fleeing war, mostly Syrians. Since February 2022, around 1.2 million Ukrainians have arrived in the country due to Russia's invasion of Ukraine.
Kenyans can stay longer
The Berlin authorities will also consider extending the permits of Kenyan workers who have been hired. In addition, they will also be granted long-term visas for studies or professional training.
“Upon expiry of the long-term visa, Kenyans can receive a temporary residence permit for the purpose of studying in Germany for up to two years,” according to the agreement.
Temporary residence permits can also be extended if the purpose of the stay has not been achieved, but can be achieved within a “reasonable” time. In the case of IT specialists, even formal qualifications will not be required.
Both governments will support the immigration of skilled workers who have completed vocational training or obtained a university degree, provided their qualifications are recognised by the relevant authorities in the other side.
On Thursday, while welcoming five Kenyan drivers in Flensburg, Schleswig-Holstein Transport Minister Claus Ruhe Madsen said Germany needed hard-working hands and intelligent minds.
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