Author: Abigail Ampofo

Germany has reached a landmark agreement with Kenya to welcome 250,000 skilled and semi-skilled workers under a targeted labour migration deal.

This initiative is designed to address Germany’s growing shortage of skilled labour while offering new opportunities to Kenyan professionals.

The deal comes at a time when Kenya faces challenges in providing sufficient employment and income for its young workforce. As part of the agreement, five Kenyan bus drivers have already begun working in Flensburg, Germany, as part of a pilot project.

This migration agreement is part of Germany’s broader strategy to manage immigration effectively. It also includes provisions for simplifying the repatriation process for Kenyans residing in Germany without legal status.

Germany’s approach to immigration has been a hot topic, especially with the rise of the far-right anti-immigration party, Alternative for Germany (AfD).

The country has experienced significant waves of immigration, including over a million people during the 2015-2016 migrant crisis and 1.2 million Ukrainians since the start of Russia’s invasion in February 2022.

The labour deal was formalised in Berlin by German Chancellor Olaf Scholz and Kenyan President William Ruto. As part of the agreement, Germany has agreed to relax some of its immigration laws to facilitate Kenyan employment in its economy.

Kenyan workers will also benefit from extended temporary residence permits if they secure approved jobs, and long-term visas will be available for those wishing to study or undertake vocational training in Germany.

“On the expiry of the long-stay visa, Kenyans may receive a temporary residence permit for study purposes in Germany for up to two years,” the agreement states.

The temporary residence permit may be extended if the purpose of residence has not yet been achieved but is achievable within a “reasonable” period, it adds.

Under the new deal, Kenya’s IT specialists will be permitted to work in Germany even without formal qualifications.

This agreement supports the immigration of skilled workers who have completed vocational training or hold university degrees, provided their qualifications are recognised by the relevant authorities in either country.

The agreement also outlines procedures for the readmission and return of citizens between Kenya and Germany. It includes strict measures to prevent and combat labour exploitation, forced labour, and human trafficking.

During the welcome ceremony for the five Kenyan drivers in Flensburg, Schleswig-Holstein’s Transport Minister Claus Ruhe Madsen emphasised Germany’s need for dedicated workers and innovative minds. He expressed that Germany is eager to benefit from the skills and expertise of these new arrivals.

“We simply have to position ourselves in Germany in such a way that it is attractive to come here,” Mr Madsen added.

The drivers are the first batch of Kenyan workers, who will be trained by the Aktiv bus company in a pilot project, hoping to get a job in Germany.

Doctors, nurses, and teachers are among those expected to take part in the programme.

The International Labour Organisation (ILO) said the deal was expected to significantly increase access to decent foreign jobs for Kenyan workers in Germany and address labour shortages in Germany.

“It includes mechanisms to protect the rights and welfare of Kenyan migrant workers in Germany, ensuring safe, orderly, and productive migration,” ILO added in a statement.

But there are concerns about a brain drain in Kenya with professionals like doctors and nurses going abroad for jobs, leaving local hospitals with a huge shortage of medical workers.

“It is sad that we are going to service other countries at the expense of our own country,” Ekuru Aukot, a Kenyan lawyer and politician, told the BBC’s Newsday programme.

But Roseline Njogu, a senior foreign affairs official, said Kenya was simply responding to the global labour market demands.

“We have a youth bulge in Kenya, and every year we have a million people joining the local labour market. It takes time and resources to create job opportunities at home,” she added.