Photovoltaic panel factory in Fürstenwalde in eastern Germany.

Work in Germany? Yes, maybe

On 1 May, the doors will open wide for Poles, Czechs and other eastern Europeans now free to work in Germany. But no one expects a stampede. Quite the opposite: German companies will have to woo the new guest workers ardently and assiduously.

Published on 29 April 2011
Photovoltaic panel factory in Fürstenwalde in eastern Germany.

For the past few weeks Andreas Röhm has been getting a lot of enquiries. For many years his recruitment agency, Sirius Consulting, has been providing nurses from eastern Europe to German families. But now a whole new clientele is ringing up. “Medium-sized entrepreneurs are on the phone,” says Röhm. “They’re looking for construction workers, welders or skilled workers for the hotel trade.” The companies want Röhm to use his links with eastern Europe to attract people to Germany.

For come May 1, all the doors here in Germany are being flung open to eastern Europeans whose countries joined the EU in 2004. Poles, Czechs, Slovaks, Slovenes, Hungarians and citizens of the Baltic states can work freely in Germany, without the German employment office first having to make a detailed assessment as to whether a German worker could not be found for the same task, which was a requirement in force until now.

**This content has been removed under request of the copyright owner.**

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