In a classroom in the South Indian metropolis of Chennai, approximately 20 nurses are studying German at an accelerated pace. In just six months, they must master the language at a level sufficient for employment in Germany. One student, Ramalakshi, shared with journalists that her family, despite financial hardships, gathered several thousand euros to fund her education.
In India, nursing is a three-year university degree, whereas in Germany, it falls under the vocational training system. Since Ramalakshi began working, she has strived to support her family. “My goal is to work abroad,” she said. “I want to provide financial security for my family and build my own home.”
The government of the state of Tamil Nadu, of which Chennai is the capital, funds language courses for medical personnel to reduce local unemployment and allow low-income families to benefit from the global demand for care services. Private agencies then match these Indian specialists with potential employers in Germany.
The Search for Workers
Germany is in desperate need of labor. The baby boomer generation will retire in the coming years, while the birth rate remains insufficiently high. Hospitals lack staff, schools lack teachers, and the IT sector lacks developers. According to estimates by the Institute for Employment Research (IAB) in Nuremberg, the country needs to attract 300,000 specialists annually to maintain the status quo. Without new personnel, residents of Germany will have to work more, retire later, or accept a decline in prosperity, emphasized IAB researcher Michael Oberfichtner.
Economic Miracle Built on Foreign Labor
After World War II (1939–1945), Germany experienced an economic surge often referred to as the Economic Miracle. In the 1950s, 1960s, and early 1970s, the economy grew so rapidly that the young democracy required labor from abroad to meet demand.
Germany signed official agreements with countries such as Italy, Greece, and Turkey, ensuring a steady influx of workers. Until 1973, when this policy was terminated, 14 million people arrived in Germany to work. They were referred to as so-called gastarbeiters, under the assumption that they would return home after a few years. However, many stayed and built new lives in Germany.
Bureaucratic Obstacles
Today, Germany once again feels the need for foreign specialists. However, migrants face numerous hurdles when trying to secure employment. Zahra, who arrived from Iran, initially had no right to work after graduating from a German university. “It took almost a year just to get an appointment to convert my student visa into a work visa,” she said. Zahra requested that her last name not be used due to fears of potential issues with migration authorities.
She is fluent in German, teaches at universities, and conducts scientific research. Yet, even after many years, her work permit remains temporary. Every time she wishes to change jobs or modify her contract, she must contact the authorities. “Sometimes I wonder: do I really want to live here?” she admitted. Some of her friends moved to Canada and have already obtained citizenship. “I, however, am forced to go through this even after six and a half years of living in Germany.”
Cologne-based attorney Björn Maibaum specializes in migration law. He emphasized that Zahra’s experience is not unusual. “Unfortunately, this situation is observed across the country,” Maibaum noted. His law firm processes about 2,000 such cases annually, attempting to expedite the immigration process.
His clients include doctors, nurses, engineers, and truck drivers. The lawyer identifies the primary problem as the overburdening of migration authorities. Processing times of many months or even a year are not uncommon. For applicants, this is extremely exhausting, Maibaum emphasized: “This is not the signal we should be sending to the world. Ultimately, our country is participating in a competitive struggle for labor.”
Specialists vs. Refugees
According to the latest data from the Federal Office for Migration and Refugees, approximately 160,000 foreigners with residence permits for skilled labor currently live in Germany. However, foreigners’ registration offices are also responsible for processing asylum applications from millions of refugees who have arrived in Germany in recent years due to conflicts and wars, such as those in Syria or Ukraine.
Insufficient digitalization within state structures further slows these processes. While the number of refugees has grown significantly since 2015, authorities have struggled to integrate the majority of them into the labor market. As a result, public dissatisfaction with immigration policy has intensified. The Alternative for Germany party, which opposes migration, has gained significant support, becoming the second-strongest faction in the Bundestag and gaining representation in many regional parliaments.
From Tamil Nadu to Rhineland-Palatinate
Nurse Kayalvizhi Rajavel makes her rounds at the BDH Clinic in Vallendar, a small town near Koblenz in the state of Rhineland-Palatinate. The clinic specializes in neurological rehabilitation, helping patients recover from strokes or injuries. Rajavel arrived from South India just a few months ago.
According to her, the primary challenges initially involved the German language. “But my supervisor and colleagues helped me and others a lot. They treat us with respect,” she noted. She is one of 40 employees from India and Sri Lanka whom the clinic has hired in recent years. Most arrived through recruitment agencies whose placement services cost between 7,000 and 12,000 euros. The process takes time: up to nine months pass from the first contact to the start of work.
Concerns Over Intolerance
For Indian residents wishing to work in Germany, xenophobia and racism are important topics, reported Jörg Biebrach, head of nursing services at the BDH Clinic. “People in India are aware of this. We are increasingly asked questions about the political situation and various parties,” he emphasized. There are many reasons why new employees may not want to renew contracts after the standard two-year term: homesickness, family circumstances, or difficulties with integration.
Therefore, it is vital for employers to create an environment for foreign colleagues where they feel welcome, Biebrach believes. To withstand global competition for trained talent from India, the clinic now offers a program for young people who have just finished school in their home country. They complete their entire nursing training in Germany.
The advantage of this approach lies in accelerated integration and professional entry. Since the training is completed in Germany, the need for the recognition of foreign diplomas—a complex procedure hindered by differing laws across the 16 federal states—is eliminated. For the country to become more attractive to young talent, authorities must work faster and rules must become unified, Biebrach concluded. “Everyone says we need specialists. Но we are still far from a culture of hospitality where everything functions without friction.”
Source: DW
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