Germany should make foreigners feel welcome, says Wadephul in Jakarta

Germany should be more welcoming to foreign workers, given its shortage of skilled staff, Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul said on Thursday during a trip to Indonesia.

"We not only need the technical means to bring people to Germany, but we also need to show a welcoming culture for foreign skilled workers," the conservative politician said after visiting a university for healthcare professions in Jakarta.

For a society as young as Indonesia's, where half the population is under 30, overseas jobs present a significant opportunity, Wadephul said.

However, he warned that Germany faced competition from other popular destinations, particularly in highly sought-after fields.

"And many decide against us, partly because German is not the easiest language," he noted. "It is therefore up to us to make the conditions attractive for future skilled workers."

"German lessons and quick and efficient visa issuance alone will not motivate people to stay with us permanently," said Wadephul, calling for a new culture of welcome.

Germany urgently needs skilled workers from abroad, especially in the health sector, as well as in IT and hospitality, Wadephul noted.

He highlighted the importance of integrating language training into vocational education, praising the cooperation between Germany's Goethe-Institut and the Indonesian Health Ministry as a model project.

Wadephul also visited a German course and discussed career plans with students, observing a nursing exercise conducted in German.

Currently, skilled worker migration to Germany remains low, with around 1,000 visas issued annually. Berlin cites low training levels, language requirements and recognition of professional qualifications as challenges.