Opening Doors

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Germany signed two major migration agreements with Kenya and Uzbekistan this week, in an attempt to address labor shortages in the country and strengthen migration policies to combat the rising influence of the far-right, Bloomberg reported.

The deal with Uzbekistan, sealed Sunday during a visit by German Chancellor Olaf Scholz to the Central Asian nation, is aimed at attracting skilled workers to Germany and facilitating the return of migrants without legal residency.

The two countries also announced a commitment to deepen collaboration on mining and supplying critical raw materials, such as copper, and strengthen supply chains.

The agreement came two days after Scholz and Kenyan President William Ruto inked a similar deal in the German capital Berlin, allowing skilled and semi-skilled Kenyan workers access to the German labor market, CNN wrote.

Although the exact number of Kenyan workers has not been disclosed, officials in the African nation previously said they looking at employment opportunities for up to 250,000 Kenyans.

The Kenya deal also focuses on controlling irregular migration, including ensuring that undocumented Kenyans in Germany are repatriated.

Observers said that both accords are part of a broader effort by Berlin to fill in gaps in the labor market and shore up its workforce as its population ages, especially in sectors needing skilled workers.

But they also highlight Scholz and his ruling coalition’s tougher stance in tackling migration amid rising anti-immigrant sentiment and the growing popularity of the opposition far-right Alternative for Germany, or AfD, party.

In recent weeks, Germany has introduced stricter immigration policies and border checks in an effort to combat irregular migration and cross-border crime, Reuters added.

The changes also follow a series of attacks by migrants and asylum seekers in recent months, including last month’s fatal attack in Solingen by a Syrian man due for deportation.