Germany is currently not particularly successful in recruiting skilled workers from abroad. Completely different from Canada. What makes the country better and what can RLP learn from it?
José remembers from Mexico that he suddenly received an email from Canada asking whether he would like to work there. The chemist had a good job, but he still decided to follow the call from the north with his wife and three small children. That was 18 years ago. Today José works at a Siemens branch in the capital Ottawa; his children speak the Canadian official languages English, French and Spanish. He describes himself as a proud Canadian and a proud Mexican. He is happy and grateful to Canada for the freedom to live out both and to feel welcome.
Siemens employee José has Canadian and Mexican citizenship.
One of his colleagues says that she came to Canada from Iran as a student at the age of 22 and immediately received a work permit. A Brazilian who also works at Siemens reports how quickly his children were integrated into school and thus into Canadian society.
Collaboration between the state, companies and organizations
People from all over the world reported on these and similar experiences to Rhineland-Palatinate Integration Minister Katharina Binz (Greens) during her visit to Canada. The support from the Canadian government, but also from non-governmental organizations, is repeatedly highlighted, be it in finding a school for the children or finding orientation in everyday life.
One of these organizations is the Immigrant Service Nova Scotia, or ISANS for short. It has been offering an all-round service for “newcomers”, as ISANS director Paula Knight calls newly arrived migrants, for more than 40 years. If possible, ISANS asks about the individual needs of the new arrivals before they arrive, says Knight. This could be a job-specific language course, support in finding accommodation or even trauma therapy.
In special cases, ISANS refers the “newcomers” to experts, such as therapists. But often this is not necessary at all. The organization has 500 employees, 700 volunteers and a budget of around 30 million euros in the province of Nova Scotia.
Immigration: This is how the Canadian points system works
Canada regulated immigration early on. A points system for those wishing to immigrate was introduced as early as 1967 and has been further developed since then. Points are awarded primarily for knowledge of one of the two national languages – English and French – as well as for professional qualifications. Younger immigrants receive more points than older people. Anyone who has already received a job offer receives additional points in Canada has. The more points, the greater the chances of success in the so-called express entry procedure. The Demand on the labor market only plays one indirect role. Applicants with qualifications in particularly sought-after professions – currently this mainly applies to medical professionals, but also skilled tradespeople – will not be given priority in the process.
Not comparable with the German points system
Even if the new German regulations on the immigration of skilled workers also provide for a point grid, the research service of the German Bundestag believes that both systems are difficult to compare. Among other things, because the Canadian points system evaluates the different factors in much more detail. In addition to the nationwide procedures, the Individual provinces also have their own programssuch as Quebec for French-speaking immigrants. Apart from a health check at home, the application process takes place via the Internet. Also who the Study in Canada comes receives a temporary work permit. This even applies to spouses or life partners. Canada has an interest in qualified people staying in the country and, if possible, taking on Canadian citizenship, which is possible after five years. In this way, Canada’s population has increased by an average of one percent per year, to now around 40 million.
Migrants get help from a single source
Help from a single source is one of the main differences to Germany, where there are a number of support offers, but different bodies are responsible for them. Finding your way through the confusing jungle of offers is difficult. Canada, which has always seen itself as a country of immigration, has many years of experience in managed immigration.
What stuck above all is that there is a great deal of cooperation between all levels.”
Integration Minister Katharina Binz (Greens)
Another insight from her trip to Canada for Integration Minister Binz is that employers in Canada also make a significant contribution to integration, for example by taking part in intercultural training or giving employees paid leave so that they can improve their language skills. “The main thing that stuck is that there is a lot of cooperation between all levels,” says Binz in an interview with SWR.
Immigrants would also have come to Germany, but…
She wants to know from the Siemens employees that Binz meets in Ottawa whether it would also be an option for them to emigrate to Germany. Absolutely, says an engineer from Iran. However, Germany refused him a residence permit. A colleague adds that she would also have liked to go to Germany. However, she had to wait a year for an appointment at the consulate to be able to submit her documents. In the meantime, she already had her Canadian residence permit in her pocket.
Pressure on the housing market – Canada is also reducing immigration
As the graphic shows, there has been strong immigration to the North American country in recent years. While half a million immigrants were planned for 2025, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s government announced on Thursday (October 24th) that it would gradually reduce these numbers.
Accordingly, there is now talk of 395,000 people in 2025 and 380,000 in 2026. The following year only 365,000 people will be allowed to immigrate to Canada. One reason is the government’s desire to take pressure off the housing market. The public infrastructure and especially housing construction have not been able to keep pace with immigration in recent years, which is primarily reflected in the form of high real estate prices and rents.
Broadcast on Saturday, October 26th, 2024 5:00 a.m., Good Morning RLP, SWR1 Rhineland-Palatinate
