ERFURT_A successful energy transition requires, among other things, new wind turbines, solar panels, heat pumps – and people to process, assemble and install these things. To ensure that the ecological transformation in the Free State does not fail due to a shortage of skilled workers, the Thuringian economy must increasingly try to attract international skilled workers – often not an easy task for companies. Support and extensive information on overcoming this challenge will be offered to company managers on Thursday, June 1, from 10:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. in Erfurt at the event “International Workers – An Opportunity for the Ecological Transformation“. The conference is organized by the Heinrich Böll Foundation Thuringia (hbs) and the Thuringian Agency For Skilled Worker Recruitment (ThAFF). Participants include Katrin Göring-Eckardt (MdB), Doreen Denstädt, Thuringian Minister for Migration, Justice and Consumer Protection, and Sabine Wosche, Managing Director of LEG, where ThAFF is based.
"By 2035, Germany will need around 800,000 additional skilled workers for the ecological transformation, but at the same time, for example, Thuringia will lose about a quarter of its current workforce by 2040 – these opposing trends require decisive measures, with the recruitment of international workers representing a promising strategy," explained Minister Denstädt ahead of the event. "Providing Thuringian company managers in this field with concrete information is important, and we hope that many entrepreneurs will take the opportunity to participate." Two developments at the federal level bring new impulses to the topic: Since the beginning of this year, the opportunity residence permit has been in effect, offering tolerated people already in Germany a permanent stay perspective through the path to employment. In addition, immigration law is to be reformed by the summer – among other things, using an opportunity card for job searching and lowering the requirements for job searching.
"This makes it easier for companies to hire international workers – nevertheless, many questions about recruitment remain open, and we will provide very specific tips and suggestions, for example, informing about where advisory services are available, what steps need to be taken, and what opportunities exist for the companies," says Sabine Wosche, who will open the event on June 1 at the COMCENTER Brühl. This will be followed by welcoming remarks from Katrin Göring-Eckardt and Doreen Denstädt. Anett Reiche and Kirstin von Graefe from ThAFF will give a presentation on the topic of "Skilled Immigration from Third Countries" (i.e., non-EU countries), followed by a lecture on the topic of "Right of Residence for Opportunities for Domestic Residents," held by Christiane Welker, Project BLEIBdran+ at the Institute for Vocational Training and Social Management (IBS) non-profit GmbH. A discussion round in "Fishbowl" mode will then offer ample opportunity for exchange with the speakers and among all participants, focusing on the advisory and support structures for attracting international skilled workers from third countries.
Interested female entrepreneurs and companies can register until May 26 here register for the event.
All media professionals are cordially invited to participate in the event.
Location: Erfurt, COMCENTER Brühl, Mainzerhofstraße 10
Time: Thursday, June 1, 2023, 10:00 AM - 12:30 PM
Further information at:
https://calendar.boell.de/de/event/internationale-arbeitskraefte-eine-chance-fuer-die-oekologische-transformation-0
