Germany: Skilled Immigrant 'Path'

An interesting report came up yesterday via ARD (public TV in Germany, Channel One).  A number of industries within Germany are concerned about the lack of replacement workers for the ageing German population.  They've been putting pressure on the government to write a policy that makes sense.

The government agreement here....they still have to write the law itself and get it passed....but they agree to the concept.  In the future....the skilled labor recruitment operation, and the path of rejected asylum seekers for work.....will be separate topics...separate laws.

So what they intend to create....is a 'doorway' where there would be strict rules for immigration into Germany which was job-related (not asylum from a war conflict).  If you want to come and work....you'd be a job-migrant case.

In this category....you'd have to be 25 or less years old.  You would have to demonstrate some type of proficiency in German (level B2).  You'd also have to have a standard educational background (comparable to a German school).   In exchange, no child allowance will be paid out during this period work/job training. 

There's also going to be a probation period (minimum of 12 months).

First, I'll admit it's a policy that they really needed and it'll eliminate a lot of 'mystery' on how individuals arrived, spent a full-year in language training, and then got two to three years of apprentice type training. 

Second, the path for some marginal young guy to arrive and his resume for the past five years was burger-flipper or fruit salesmen on some street....is now blocked (at least when the law is stamped done).

Third, I suspect a number of odd countries will begin to see more German classes taught (like South Korea, Japan, Philippines, etc) and more people applying for this visa-path into Germany. 

Fourth, getting to the B2 level?  It's not simple or easy.  Even in the intensive classes, you'd be talking about four hours a day....for nine months.  But if someone has accomplished this, they might be pretty determined to be serious and really want to immigrate. 

This is a pathway that they should have written 20 years ago....that's the sad part to the story.