Germany To Offer India More Skilled Work Visas

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz shakes hands with Prime Minister of India Narendra Modi on October 25, … [+] 2024 in New Delhi, India. (Photo by Marvin Ibo Güngör/Bundesregierung via Getty Images)

Bundesregierung via Getty Images

The German Chancellor Olaf Scholz has pledged to dramatically increase the quota of skilled work visas for Indian citizens. The announcement comes as Scholz meets with India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Delhi, seeking to improve ties.

PM Modi announced the quota increase at a business summit in the capital: “Germany has decided to increase the visa number for the skilled Indian workforce from 20,000 to 90,000,” Modi is reported to have said. “It will give a new pace to Germany’s growth.”

Growth is certainly one of, if not the main, goal behind Germany’s pledge. The country is already dealing with historic labor shortfalls, and according to the government’s own figures could be facing millions of new vacancies over the next decade. This is particularly acute in several sectors, including the trades. As in other European countries, Germany’s working population is aging out of the shopfloor, and young people are not entering into apprenticeships anywhere near enough to replace them.

The German government has in recent years made a number of moves to try to increase recruitment of foreign workers to replace domestic retirees. These include policy changes to reduce bureaucracy and offer greater skills recognition and training programs. The country has also spent considerable resources pursuing the economic integration of Syrian refugees in the country. The German government had also previously pledged to cut waiting times for visa applicants from India.

“Young educated Indians are striving to enter the labor market, while in Germany, there is a great need of skilled workers, and it can be turned into a ‘win-win-win’ situation for both the countries and youths,” German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock is reported to have said while accompanying Scholz in Delhi.

Immigration is a contentious topic in Germany, however. Recent electoral gains by the far-right Alternative for Germany party, which campaigns largely on anti-immigration rhetoric, has put pressure on Scholz’ governing coalition to be seen to do more on migration to Germany. Recognizing the need for more workers, Scholz and his cabinet have mostly focused on irregular migration, those people seeking shelter and protection in Germany, while trying to talk up the benefits of skilled migration.

There is a diplomatic angle to this announcement as well, of course. This is Scholz’ third trip to India since becoming Chancellor, and both leaders appear keen to bolster their partnership. Scholz for his part is also pursuing deeper financial and defense ties with India, both to try to move India closer to the West away from Russia, and to reduce Germany’s economic dependence on China.

On top of regular labor migration, the two countries pledged to pursue the terms of a previously signed migration and mobility partnership between India and the European Union. This agreement includes cooperation on reducing irregular migration and human trafficking. While still a relatively small part of overall irregular migration patterns, there has been a noticeable increase in people travelling irregularly from India to Europe. This is attributable in part to Serbia’s temporarily allowing Indian citizens visa-free travel, opening up opportunities for irregular entry into EU territory, but also reflects similar patterns elsewhere in the world.

With that in mind, behind the diplomacy and promises to open up labor migration opportunities to India, Scholz and the EU may also be working to encourage Modi to do more to prevent people leaving for Europe. Modi is a powerful figure in the region. With work still going on towards a free-trade deal between India and the EU, and recent European migration policy focused on working more with third countries on ‘border management,’ the EU may be seeking Modi as a partner in their migration goals.

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