Berlin, September 14, 2024 — The Europe Today: Germany and Kenya have signed a landmark agreement aimed at addressing Germany’s skilled labor shortage while facilitating the legal migration of Kenyan workers to Europe’s largest economy. The agreement was formalized on Friday during talks between German Chancellor Olaf Scholz and Kenyan President William Ruto in Berlin.
The deal seeks to streamline the entry of skilled Kenyan workers into Germany, where an aging and shrinking workforce has created a significant demand for skilled immigrants. Experts estimate that Germany needs approximately 400,000 skilled immigrants annually to sustain its economic growth and prosperity.
Chancellor Scholz emphasized the importance of being “open to the world” as the foundation of Germany’s economic success. “This agreement can help us to compensate for a shortage of skilled workers,” he stated, while also noting the need for effective repatriation processes. “On the other side of the coin, the agreement provides for effective return procedures for those who have come to us from Kenya but do not have or cannot acquire the right to stay here. They can now return home more easily and quickly.”
The labor and migration pact also highlights Germany’s commitment to controlling unauthorized migration. The German government, faced with growing pressure following a recent knife attack in Solingen and electoral gains by the anti-migrant Alternative for Germany (AfD) party in two eastern states, has sought to strike a balance between welcoming legal immigrants and tightening restrictions on illegal entries.
Scholz, however, praised those migrants who enter the country through authorized channels, reaffirming that “the basis of our prosperity is being open to the world.”
This agreement marks a significant step in Germany’s efforts to address its labor market challenges while strengthening ties with Kenya, further solidifying international cooperation in managing migration effectively.
