Fair recruitment of international skilled workers

At lingoking, we do not recruit international skilled workers ourselves. Nevertheless, the issue of fair recruitment is something we care deeply about. Behind every international skilled worker is a person who deserves to come to Germany in a fair, transparent and ethically responsible way.

That is why we are actively involved in organisations and associations such as GAPA, Bundesverband internationale Fachkräftegewinnung (bvifg) e.V. and the WE-Fair Skilled Workers Alliance. Together, we advocate for high standards and sustainable processes in the recruitment of international skilled workers.

For this article, we asked representatives of these organisations why fair recruitment is so important – and what matters most in this regard.

Due to the growing shortage of skilled workers, Germany is dependent on international skilled workers – particularly in the healthcare sector. According to the Federal Employment Agency, one in five care workers is a foreign national. And demand continues to rise. Skilled workers are also urgently needed outside the healthcare sector, for example in childcare, the skilled trades or the commercial transport sector.

“Due to demographic change, Germany is facing a growing shortage of skilled workers. This means we need skilled workers from other countries to secure our prosperity and support our social and healthcare systems. Whilst fewer and fewer people are coming to us from the EU, immigration from non-EU countries is on the rise. This often includes many young, motivated people who are looking for opportunities both locally and beyond. If we bring these interests together in a fair way, all parties can benefit: Germany, the country of origin and the skilled workers,” explains Dr Merle Kreibaum from the WE-Fair Skilled Workers Alliance.

Christian Sassin from  Bundesverband internationale Fachkräftegewinnung (bvifg) e.V. adds:  

“It is only through fair recruitment that we can ensure that talented individuals make a conscious decision in favour of the employer, the location and the job profile – rather than simply wanting to leave their home country. Fairness and ethics are not mere ideals here, but create long-term sustainability, predictability and, ultimately, savings in time and cost compared to supposedly quick solutions with no lasting prospects.”

Fair recruitment is based on clearly defined rules, transparency and responsible support for international skilled workers throughout the entire process.

“The key points for fair recruitment are set out in the guiding principles of the ‘Fair Recruitment in German Care’ quality mark,” explains Ann-Christin Wedeking from GAPA.

These include, amongst other things:

• processes documented in writing,
• free-of-charge placement for candidates,
• transparent information on services and costs,
• an appropriate level of financial risk,
• sustainability and participation,
• as well as accountability throughout the entire placement process.

Future employers also play a crucial role. They bear responsibility for successful integration – for example, through professional workplace integration management.

Christina Sassin from the bvifg describes what fair recruitment can look like in practice:

“This includes early recruitment, a conscious matching of the applicant’s profile with the employer’s job offer, support during the pre-integration phase whilst still in the home country, thorough preparation for entry, and ongoing support for new colleagues even after their arrival.”

Certain practices must be consistently ruled out: “The confiscation of passports, admissions of debt or exploitative credit schemes must have no place,” emphasises Sassin.

Quality marks for fair recruitment can serve as a guide for employers. In the healthcare sector, GAPA’s ‘Fair Recruitment in German Care’ quality mark has already become established. In addition to providing guidance for employers, this is intended to protect international care workers from exploitation and excessive debt.

The bvifg is also currently developing a quality seal, which is intended to apply to international skilled workers across all sectors. A separate working group has been set up for this purpose to define mandatory and verifiable quality standards that must be adhered to by the association’s members. “What is important to us here is a holistic view of the migration journey, rather than merely an analysis of the German side. Fair standards must also be defined and enforced in the home country to enable truly humane recruitment and retention. The bvifg advocates these criteria to politicians, the authorities and the business community, thereby setting an example of trust and quality,” explains Christian Sassin of the bvifg.