Destination Germany

At first glance, labour migration from Africa to Germany looks like a win-win: Germany has a shortage of skilled workers, while many African countries struggle with high youth unemployment. But what do countries of origin – particularly trade unions and civil society actors – say is needed to make it work? Based on interviews with experts from Egypt, Tunisia, Ghana and Nigeria, a Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung publication analyses the conditions and challenges of regular labour migration to Germany. The analysis focuses on access to reliable information and on involving and empowering local actors, with a view to safeguarding the interests of and better protecting potential migrants.
 

Key findings:
 

• Germany is becoming a more important destination for migrants, but structural barriers such as language requirements, bureaucratic recognition procedures and difficulties accessing information pose obstacles to the regular migration of African skilled workers.
• Egypt, Tunisia, Ghana and Nigeria have been investing more heavily in their migration policy structures – from new government agencies to international agreements and the regulation of private recruitment agencies. Ghana and Nigeria in particular have created mechanisms to better involve trade unions and civil society in the migration process.
• Potential migrants rarely use official information channels, instead preferring to rely on personal networks and social media.
   

Recommendations for fair labour migration:
 

• For Germany to stay competitive in the global competition for labour, regular migration channels need to be expanded and the Centres for Migration and Development set up by the Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development strengthened by improving outreach and cooperation with local actors.
• Trade unions and civil society must be more closely involved in migration policymaking, enabling them to protect labour migrants’ rights and meet their need for protection more effectively. Stronger cooperation between German and African trade unions can also play an important role here.  
• Dedicated digital streetwork on social media is a highly effective way to inform potential migrants about legal migration pathways.