Germany is still facing a shortage of skilled labor due to retiring older employees, with insufficient young applicants available to take their positions. In an effort to mitigate the issue, the nation is progressively relying on laborers from India.
Handirk von Ungern-Sternberg received an email in February 2021 that marked the beginning of it all. It originated in India.
The main point of the message was: "We have many eager, young individuals seeking vocational training and we're curious if you're interested."
Von Ungern-Sternberg was employed by the Freiburg Chamber of Skilled Crafts in southwestern Germany, an organization that advocates for skilled workers, ranging from bricklayers and carpenters to butchers and bakers, along with the businesses that hire them.
The email came at a timely moment.
"Many employers were in a tough spot, unable to locate anyone willing to work for them," states Von Ungern-Sternberg. "Thus, we made the choice to try it out."
His initial contact was with the leader of the local butchers' association. Butchers throughout Germany were facing a tough challenge. It was a field in significant downturn.
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In 2002, there were 19,000 small, family-owned businesses, while by 2021, fewer than 11,000 remained. Employers were struggling significantly to attract young individuals for apprenticeship positions.
"The butchery profession requires a lot of effort," states Joachim Lederer, the head of the butchers' guild. "For roughly the past 25 years, young individuals have been pursuing different paths."
In India, at Magic Billion, the employment agency that sent the first email, it successfully recruited 13 young individuals, who came to Germany in the fall of 2022 to start their butchery apprenticeships in small towns near the Swiss border. They would allocate some of their time to college.
Included in the group was 21-year-old Anakha Miriam Shaji. Similar to several individuals in her group, it was the initial occasion she had departed from India.
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She recalls her enthusiasm. "I wished to explore the world," she states. "I aimed to elevate my living standards significantly." "I desired strong social security."
Anakha had started working for Lederer in the town of Weil am Rhein, located at the southwestern edge of Germany, near the Swiss and French borders.
Three years later, much has transformed. Von Ungern-Sternberg is no longer employed at the chamber.
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He has established his own recruitment agency, India Works, in collaboration with Aditi Banerjee from Magic Billion, to assist in bringing more young Indian workers to Germany.