The construction industry criticizes the coalition agreement between the CDU/CSU and the SPD regarding the halving of the workforce contingent from the Western Balkan countries.
The decision to halve the workforce from the Western Balkans is "surprising and detrimental to the construction industry," Tim-Oliver Müller, CEO of the Central Association of the German Construction Industry, told the Stuttgarter Zeitung and Stuttgarter Nachrichten newspapers (April 17, 2025). He referred to planned infrastructure projects "that foresee increasing workforce needs."
A significant proportion of foreign workers in the construction sector come from the countries of the former Yugoslavia, said Müller. "The reduction of the quota of the regulation for the Western Balkans to a maximum of 25,000 workers will severely affect the construction economy."
Western Balkans Regulation: Simplified visa and work permit requirements
The Western Balkan countries are Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo, Montenegro, North Macedonia and Serbia. "Regular migration to Germany under the so-called Western Balkans regulation will be limited to 25,000 people per year," the coalition agreement states. Currently, based on this regulation, the number of workers withdrawn from these countries per year is around 50,000. This contingent comes with simplified conditions for granting a visa and work permit in Germany. Recognition of professional qualifications in Germany is not a requirement. /DW/ (A2 Televizion)
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