Federal Minister of Labour and Social Affairs Hubertus Heil will be visiting India from 24 October 2024. One aim of his trip is to take part in the 7th German-Indian Intergovernmental Consultations in New Delhi. The main focus of his trip will be the recruitment of skilled workers. He will also hand over the Skilled Labour Strategy India to his Indian partner ministers, which was recently drawn up jointly by the Federal Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs (BMAS) and the Federal Foreign Office.
The migration of Indian skilled workers is already a success story for our country and we will continue this with over 30 measures as part of the skilled labour strategy.
The Asia-Pacific Conference of German Business will take place in New Delhi at the same time. The motto of the conference is “Growing Together with Innovation, Mobility and Sustainability”. At the conference, Federal Minister Hubertus Heil will take part in a panel on the topic of recruiting skilled workers from Asia, discussing this topic with representatives from companies and the German Chamber of Commerce.
Due to a young, growing population, the Indian labour market is under great pressure. An estimated 84 million new workers will enter the labor market by 2030. The opportunity to work abroad offers skilled Indians new prospects. The Indian government supports the skilled migration of Indians to other countries. A migration and mobility agreement between Germany and India has been in place since 2023.
Programme of the Federal Minister of Labour (excerpt):
October 24:
Visit to the G.D. Goenka Public School where German (up to B1 level) is taught and where students can learn practical skills in welding, electrical and metal work to prepare for vocational training in the skilled crafts or technical sectors in Germany.
Visit to the Brown Bread Bakery which is part of the Learn for Life Project. It has been providing free education for disadvantaged children and young people and fair working conditions for women in Varanasi and Delhi for over 20 years. Since this year, the bakery has also been sending young Indians to Germany for vocational training as part of a pilot project.
Meeting with Minister of Labour Mansukh Mandaviya, Ministry of Labour & Employment (MoLE). Following this, a joint declaration of intent (JDOI) will be signed to intensify the exchange of expertise between the BMAS and the MoLE. Another priority will be the intensification of the recruitment of skilled workers and negotiations about a social security agreement.
Meeting with Minister Shri Jayhand Chaudhary, Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship (MSDE). The focus of the meeting will be on attracting skilled workers from India to Germany and the issue of training Indian workers.
October 25:
German-Indian Intergovernmental Consultations: bilateral meetings with partner ministries, participation in the plenary session bringing together all German and Indian ministries.
Visit of the Goethe-Institut “Max Müller Bhavan” together with Federal Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock and discussion with young Indians who will soon be coming to Germany as students or skilled workers.
October 26
Event at the Asia-Pacific Conference on the recruitment of skilled workers from Asia with opening statement by Federal Minister Heil and his participation in a panel discussion.