Diakonie presents new integration package: Key to labor market integration!

Diakonie presents new integration package: Key to labor market integration!

On May 27, 2025, Diakonie will present a comprehensive integration package to improve labor market integration, which is intended as a response to the challenges of labor shortages and the integration needs of migrants. At a time when Germany is struggling with growing new immigration, Diakonie, under the leadership of director Maria Katharina Moser, shows how important clear rules and less bureaucracy are for integration. “The need to provide comprehensive support to those willing to work is essential,” emphasizes Moser.

The integration package includes several key elements aimed at facilitating the integration of asylum seekers and migrants into the labor market. This includes a competency check to record skills and an individual integration plan, which is supported by the support of an integration coach. In addition, access to education and training is guaranteed for asylum seekers from day one, regardless of their origin or likelihood of staying. This initiative could alleviate the challenge of high unemployment among migrants, who, according to reports from the Federal Ministry of Labor and Social Affairs, are affected twice as badly as people without a migrant background.

Key aspects of the integration package

• Abschaffung der Beschäftigungsbewilligungspflicht und restriktiven Zuverdienstgrenzen.
• Rechtsanspruch auf individuelle Integrationsleistungen und Beratung.
• Erweiterte Möglichkeiten zur Antragstellung für eine Rot-Weiß-Rot-Karte, unabhängig vom Schutzstatus.
• Verpflichtung zur Ausbildung für geflüchtete Jugendliche und junge Erwachsene während des Asylverfahrens.
• Schaffung von leistbarem Wohnraum und Stärkung des Integrationswohnraums.
• Vereinfachung der Nostrifizierung ausländischer Qualifikationen.

These proposals are in line with the goals of German integration policy, which aims at equal participation in working life. Since 2015, the federal government has launched various programs to promote the labor market integration of migrants. These include, among other things, the “Integration through Qualification” (IQ) program, which includes advice centers for foreign professional qualifications, and regional networks to support asylum seekers and recognized refugees.

The current integrative measures are part of a comprehensive approach that has gained importance since the late 1990s. Since then, integration has been viewed as a task for society as a whole, requiring various actors in politics, authorities and society. The integration process takes place at the federal, state and local levels and requires efforts in different policy areas.

Social context and challenges

Despite the progress, the challenge remains significant. In 2018, around 20.8 million people with a migrant background lived in Germany, which corresponds to around a quarter of the total population. The integration of migrants continues to be hampered by language difficulties, lower qualifications and unrecognized qualifications. Targeted measures are required here to promote equal participation in working life and reduce discrimination.

Debates about racism and discrimination are present in German society, which underlines the need for an active integration policy. Integration is increasingly seen as an interactive process that includes all social actors and enables equal opportunities for everyone. In view of the challenges facing society, the rapid implementation of these integration measures is crucial in order to promote social cohesion and relieve the burden on the social system.

Overall, Diakonie's integration package shows the potential to actively contribute to improving labor market integration. This not only takes the individual situation of migrants into account, but also takes a decisive step towards a more inclusive society.

For further information on the federal government's specific measures to integrate migrants and their descendants, we recommend the detailed reports from the Federal Ministry of Labor and Social Affairs here as well as the comprehensive analyzes by the Federal Agency for Civic Education here.