The announcement that educated skilled workers from India will get large-scale employment opportunities in Germany will be widely welcomed. One of the agreements signed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and German Chancellor Olaf Scholz after bilateral talks in New Delhi the other day is related to this. Currently, Germany issues work visas to 20,000 skilled workers every year. A decision has been taken to increase this to 90,000. The decision is aimed at providing an opportunity for professionals and technically skilled professionals in India to get better jobs in Germany. Germany is one of the most sought-after foreign countries for men and women to enter for employment. Many Indian students also go there every year for studies. In the health sector, there is already a good demand in Germany for nurses and paramedical staff from India, especially from Kerala. Many nurses have already gone there via NORKA.

Germany is a country with a lot of job opportunities in areas such as information technology and engineering. The bilateral decision to grant work visas to 70,000 more people will be a big boon for Indian professionals. An agreement has also been signed to enhance cooperation in the areas of vocational education and skill development. Germany is making visa policy more flexible as part of its efforts to curb illegal immigration to Germany. Prime Minister Modi has specifically highlighted the contribution of skilled labour from India to Germany's growth and progress. This is a decision that will be beneficial for both countries. Germany's policy change to adopt a liberal policy on the visa issue comes in the wake of the acute shortage that Germany is facing in terms of technically skilled professionals and workers.

India's efforts should now be focussed on ensuring that the practical step to take advantage of this situation is not delayed. It is a good thing that skilled professionals and experts in other fields from Kerala have the opportunity to work in Germany and achieve better living conditions. In many foreign countries where Malayalees have already migrated a lot, opportunities are now dwindling due to strict restrictions. Even in Canada, where a liberal immigration law existed, Indians are being driven out for political reasons. With the US, where a large number of Indians have migrated, also making visa rules more stringent, there is no doubt that the liberal approach of some European countries like Germany will turn out to be a blessing in disguise for Indian professionals.

Although the visa law will be liberalised, German language skills are essential for those planning to travel to Germany. There are many obstacles to going there without even knowing the language basics. The only way out is to start more and more German language training institutes here. There are already a few centres in the cities, but in the new situation, they may not be enough. Things will become easier if people who want to get a German visa and want to go there consider German language study an emergency and make preparations for it. NORKA should also be able to play a role in this.