The head of a key German industry body has called for refugees to be given the right to work in Europe, saying that swift integration into the job market could benefit German businesses.
"If we can integrate them quickly into the jobs market, we'll be helping the refugees, but also helping ourselves as well," said Ulrich Grillo, head of the BDI industry federation, a powerful industry body in Germany.
Germany is set to receive the lion’s share of refugees fleeing war in Syria, Afghanistan and Eritrea, with a record 800,000 refugees heading to Germany this year alone.
Read more:
Europe must act humanely or face closed borders, says human rights official
Germany's approach towards people in need is no surprise
Germany has extremely low unemployment of 6.4 per cent and industry body the BDA has estimated that it is short of 140,000 skilled engineers and technicians. Some 40,000 training places in the healthcare and leisure sectors remained empty. Grillo said that skilled refugees with “really good qualifications” could help Germany fill the holes in its workforce, AFP reports.
However companies are reluctant to take on refugees as trainees or employees without the guarantee that they will not be deported.
According to German law, employers must prove that there is no German candidate to fill a position before they hire a refugee or asylum seeker.
More than 10,000 refugees reached Munich over the weekend. They were greeted by banners saying ‘Welcome to Germany’, cereal bars and teddy bears for the children.
However Angela Merkel’s decision to allow the refugees to enter has angered some in her conservative bloc, with some allied political groups accusing her of pushing on with plans without consultation.
The Independent’s Change.org position calls for the UK to welcome a fair share of refugees. Sign here.
