Against the shortage of skilled workers
Budget Committee wants to better promote integration courses
November 16, 2023, 10:31 p.m
In order to counteract the shortage of skilled workers, immigrants should be integrated into the labor market more quickly with the help of state-funded integration courses. This should also relieve the burden on municipalities in their integration work. The Federal Audit Office expresses criticism.
In order for immigrants to gain a foothold in the labor market and in society more quickly, the Budget Committee is proposing higher spending on integration courses and advisory services. Instead of the originally planned 880 million euros, financial resources amounting to 1.06 billion euros were now planned for the state courses in the so-called adjustment meeting in the budget for 2024. In order to enable more parents to take part in such courses, sufficient money should also be available for an already running federal program that offers childcare during school hours.
Around 77.5 million euros are now to be made available for migration advice, which is intended to help immigrants find their way in Germany. That is 20 million more than initially planned. “I am pleased that we are making migration advice and integration courses much better equipped and that we are providing additional relief for municipalities in their integration work,” said Green MP Jamila Schäfer. These measures can also counteract the shortage of skilled workers, added Schäfer, who is a member of the Budget Committee.
Criticism from the Federal Audit Office
In a report, the Federal Audit Office criticized the lack of monitoring of the success of migration advice for adult immigrants. The Federal Ministry of the Interior rejected the criticism and informed the Court of Auditors that the Federal Office for Migration and Refugees (BAMF) is constantly developing the controlling system.
The Court of Auditors also criticized the BAMF for supporting advice across the board, even though the federal states also offer such a service. “We share the Federal Audit Office’s assessment that the federal and state governments must come to an agreement on a sustainable financing concept,” said Schäfer. At the same time, however, it is right to focus on quickly completing the integration tasks, even as long as this understanding has not yet been completed.
Next Thursday, the Budget Committee is expected to approve the final changes to the budget. The budget is scheduled to be finally approved by the Bundestag on December 1st.