Germany is expanding its efforts to address its manpower shortage by opening a new visa option for Nigerian workers. The country has launched an online portal for Nigerians seeking to relocate and work in Germany. The opportunity card is aimed at attracting skilled workers from non-European Union (EU) countries. Interested individuals do not need to secure a job before applying for the card, but they are expected to find employment upon arriving in Germany. The card is valid for up to one year and can be extended if the individual finds qualified employment. Applicants must have their professional qualifications recognized in Germany or their country of origin and demonstrate financial self-sufficiency. Opportunity Card holders can work part-time for up to 20 hours per week and engage in trial employment for up to two weeks to evaluate their suitability for a particular job. Nigerians interested in applying for the Opportunity Card must visit Germany's diplomatic missions in Nigeria for visa applications. This initiative is part of Germany's ongoing efforts to address its manpower shortage and attract skilled workers from outside the EU. [08c5ba2b]
Germany's push to integrate Ukrainian refugees into the workforce is part of its broader strategy to address the country's manpower shortage. Chancellor Olaf Scholz has urged the newcomers to stand on their own feet and not rely on social handouts. Only 170,000 out of the Ukrainians who arrived in the last two years have found work. The government is concerned about the far-right's arguments against immigration and integration in the upcoming European elections. Germany has allocated between 5.5-6 billion euros this year alone for the cost of welcoming the refugees. The government is also working to smoothen the process for Ukrainian refugees to enter the job market by pushing major companies to be more lenient on language requirements and offering help to improve their qualifications. However, bureaucratic hurdles, such as obtaining equivalent qualifications and a high level of German language proficiency, pose challenges for Ukrainian job seekers. The government is also toughening rules for asylum seekers, including introducing a new payment card that provides social handouts as local credits. German authorities have emphasized that newcomers must lower their expectations and take the first step in finding employment. [f53d8f3e]