Consultation held on proposed legislation for the implementation of a novel regulatory framework
In a recent development, the German Hospitality industry and business representatives, including Dehoga and Deutsche Post, have been advocating for easier immigration of low-skilled workers to Germany. This call comes as the country faces acute labor shortages, particularly in sectors like hospitality, where many positions cannot be filled by domestic labor or only by skilled immigrants.
The focus of Germany's current immigration policies, as evidenced by the Skilled Immigration Act of 2023, is primarily on attracting skilled workers. This is reflected in the increased issuance of work visas in 2025, with 22,422 more than in 2024, to address workforce shortages in skilled sectors. The government is actively facilitating immigration for skilled workers and refugees, aiming to fill around 400,000 job vacancies.
However, when it comes to low-skilled workers, there is little indication that Germany is significantly easing immigration rules. This is consistent with broader European trends, such as the UK's increased salary thresholds and education requirements that make low-skilled migration harder. While the UK is explicitly narrowing criteria for skilled worker visas, Germany's Skilled Immigration Act and related reforms seem more focused on streamlining and increasing skilled immigration volumes rather than expanding low-skilled visas.
A Dehoga spokesperson has emphasized that focusing solely on formally qualified specialists for job migration is insufficient. The spokesperson criticizes the low employment rate of refugees and newcomers already living in Germany. The current rules, such as those for applicants from the Western Balkans, are not considered sufficient by Dehoga. The spokesperson did not specify which industries or professions are experiencing this low employment rate among refugees and newcomers.
Deutsche Bahn, Germany's national railway company, also considers immigration as part of the solution to its workforce needs. The company's personnel director, Thomas Ogilvie, has stated that promoting targeted employment migration, including for basic positions, is crucial due to the increasing labor and skilled worker shortage in Germany. However, it is unclear if Deutsche Bahn has any specific proposals for immigration policy to address its workforce needs or if it shares Dehoga's view that focusing solely on formally qualified specialists for job migration is insufficient.
In a separate comment to the "FAS", a Deutsche Bahn spokesperson views every hiring for operational professions as important. The spokesperson for Deutsche Bahn did not explicitly advocate for easier immigration of low-skilled workers, like Dehoga and Deutsche Post.
In summary, while Germany is actively increasing skilled worker immigration, there is a call from the hospitality industry and business sectors for more accessible immigration routes for low-skilled workers. However, recent policies do not indicate a significant easing of immigration rules for this group, and explicit recent calls or reforms in Germany for these changes are not detailed in the available sources. The current policy environment favors skilled migration, with ongoing debates in business sectors about how to better address low-skilled labor shortages through immigration reforms.
Vocational training programs could be a potential solution for low-skilled workers within Germany's hospitality industry, as the current focus on attracting skilled workers may not significantly address labor shortages in this sector. Financing these vocational training programs could be a key aspect for businesses in the industry to consider, as it may lead to a more competitive workforce and improve their business operations. In light of this, the community might need to rally for a policy reform that emphasizesnot only skilled immigrant employment but also the development of low-skilled workers through vocational training.
