International

Germany relaxes EU Blue Card rules to attract skilled workers

Published

2 weeks ago

November 10, 2024

Germany relaxes EU Blue Card rules to attract skilled workers

Germany is making it easier for skilled workers to live and work in the country by simplifying the EU Blue Card process.

The EU Blue Card, which grants non-EU nationals the right to live and work in Germany, has traditionally been difficult to obtain due to high salary thresholds and limited job categories.

However, recent changes to the policy aim to address these challenges and make Germany a more attractive destination for international talent.

DAAD Scholarship reports that Germany has lowered the salary requirements and expanded the list of eligible professions for the EU Blue Card, providing more opportunities for skilled workers.

These changes are expected to help Germany address its ongoing shortage of skilled labour in sectors such as healthcare, IT, and engineering.

New salary requirements for Blue Card applicants

One of the biggest changes to the EU Blue Card program is the reduction in the minimum salary requirement for applicants. Previously, candidates needed to earn a high salary to qualify for the Blue Card, but now the bar has been lowered to make it more accessible.

Currently, applicants must earn at least €45,300 gross annually, which is about 1.5 times the average German salary. However, the minimum salary is even lower for those in high-demand fields.

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If your profession is on Germany’s shortage occupation list—such as healthcare, IT, or engineering—the minimum salary drops to €41,041.80.

This change aims to attract skilled workers to areas where there is a significant labour shortage.

Expanded list of eligible professions

DAAD reports that Germany is actively seeking workers in various sectors, and as part of the 2024 changes, the list of eligible professions for the Blue Card has been expanded.

In addition to IT, healthcare, and engineering, the new rules open up opportunities for other skilled professionals to apply for a Blue Card. This includes sectors such as natural sciences, technology, and management.

The expansion of eligible professions indicates that more workers with specialized skills will now be able to take advantage of the Blue Card program.

It also reflects Germany’s growing demand for talent in a wide range of industries as the country looks to maintain its competitive edge in the global market.

Benefits for recent graduates

The new rules also offer significant benefits for recent university graduates. According to reports, if you have graduated within the past three years, you can now apply for the EU Blue Card with a lower salary requirement of €41,041.80, regardless of the field you studied.
This makes it easier for recent graduates to find employment in Germany and begin their careers abroad.
Furthermore, the German government is encouraging young professionals to move to the country and help fill skill gaps in various industries.

IT professionals can qualify without a degree

Reports inform on another important change in the Blue Card program, which is that IT professionals with at least three years of relevant work experience can now apply for the EU Blue Card, even if they do not have a university degree.
This change recognizes the value of practical experience and opens the door to IT professionals who may not have followed a traditional academic path but have built up significant skills through work.
This policy shift is a direct response to the growing demand for skilled IT workers, especially in fields like software development, cybersecurity, and data management.
Germany hopes that by relaxing the educational requirements for IT professionals, it will be able to attract more talent to the tech sector.

Streamlined application process

In addition to the changes in salary and eligibility criteria, Germany is also making the Blue Card application process faster and more straightforward.
The new system is designed to reduce the amount of paperwork and processing time, making it easier for applicants to get their Blue Card and start working in Germany sooner.
This will likely be a welcome change for many, as it reduces the time spent on administrative tasks and allows candidates to focus more on settling into their new roles and life in Germany.
The changes to the EU Blue Card are designed to make it easier for skilled workers to contribute to Germany’s economy and fill key roles in industries that are essential to the country’s future growth,  DAAD informs.
By lowering salary requirements, expanding eligible professions, and streamlining the application process, Germany hopes to draw in top talent and maintain its status as a global leader in innovation and economic strength.

Germany relaxes EU Blue Card rules to attract skilled workers

International

Israeli strikes pound central Beirut, suburbs

Published

2 hours ago

November 26, 2024

Trends Admin

Israeli strikes pound central Beirut, suburbs

BEIRUT: Israeli strikes pounded a densely-populated part of the Lebanese capital and its southern suburbs on Tuesday, hours ahead of an anticipated announcement of a ceasefire ending hostilities between Israel and Lebanese armed group Hezbollah.

A strike on Beirut hit the Noueiri district with no evacuation warning and killed at least one person, Lebanon’s health ministry said in a preliminary toll.

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Minutes later, at least 10 Israeli strikes hit Beirut’s southern suburbs. They began approximately 30 minutes after the Israeli military issued evacuation orders for 20 locations in the area, the largest such warning yet.

As the strikes were under way, Israel’s military spokesperson Avichay Adraee said the air force was conducting a “widespread attack” on Hezbollah targets across the city.

Israeli strikes pound central Beirut, suburbs

ARAB NEWS

International

Over $100m wasted, Trump mocks Democrats for targeting him

Published

3 hours ago

November 26, 2024

Trends Admin

President-elect Donald Trump

Over $100m wasted, Trump mocks Democrats for targeting him

Former U.S. President Donald Trump has fiercely criticised the legal cases brought against him, calling them “empty and lawless”.

He accused Democrats of weaponising the judicial system to target him as a political opponent.

In a strongly worded statement, Trump alleged that over $100 million in taxpayer money had been wasted in what he described as a politically driven effort to undermine his influence.

“Nothing like this has ever happened in our Country before,” he said, pointing to high-profile prosecutors, including Georgia’s Fani Willis and New York Attorney General Letitia James, as key figures in what he called a “political hijacking.”

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Trump also accused Willis of colluding with Nathan Wade, whom he described as “her lover” and lacking the experience to handle such cases.

He claimed Wade was paid “millions,” allegedly enabling lavish trips and cruises.

Letitia James, who is pursuing a civil fraud case against Trump, was also criticised.

Over $100m wasted, Trump mocks Democrats for targeting him

International

US-based Nigerians get 30-year sentence over $3.5m romance scam

Published

3 hours ago

November 26, 2024

Trends Admin

US-based Nigerians get 30-year sentence over $3.5m romance scam

A United States federal jury sentenced two Nigerians, Anthony Ibekie and Samuel Aniukwu, to 30 years in prison for scamming certain US citizens $3,500,000.

This was mentioned in a news statement made public on the US Department of Justice website on Monday.

According to the statement, the Nigerians, Ibekie and Aniukwu mislead their victims by informing them that they had received big inheritances that required payment to claim.

The couple would then ask their victims to transfer money, promising to refund them after the inheritances were claimed.

It also stated that the duo carried out romance scams by establishing romantic relationships with their victims and demanding them to send money after they had built trust in their victims.

It read, “An undercover law enforcement investigation has resulted in federal prison sentences for two Nigerian nationals residing in the Chicago suburbs who conducted online inheritance scams and other fraud schemes.

“Using aliases, Anthony Emeka Ibekie and Samuel Aniukwu communicated with victims throughout the United States, convincing them they had received substantial inheritances and needed to send money to individuals associated with the defendants in order to claim it.

“In addition to the inheritance scam, the pair carried out an online romance scam that involved communicating with victims via social media and dating websites, building trust with the victims through a purported online romance, and convincing them to send money to a predetermined recipient. Aniukwu and Ibekie also orchestrated a ‘business email compromise’ scam that targeted corporate email accounts.

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“The fraud schemes were uncovered by a covert law enforcement investigation. The scams resulted in losses to victims of at least $3.5 million.”

According to the statement, after being arraigned on 14 charges, the duo pleaded guilty to their different alterations.

Following their guilty pleas, Ibekie was sentenced to 20 years in prison on Thursday, and Aniukwu was sentenced to 10 years in prison on November 8.

The statement continued, “A federal jury earlier this year convicted Ibekie, 59, of Oswego, Illinois, on all 14 counts of wire fraud, mail fraud, money laundering, making false statements to a bank, and passport fraud. U.S. District Judge Steven C. Seeger on Thursday sentenced Ibekie to 20 years in federal prison.

“Aniukwu, 50, of Romeoville, Illinois, pleaded guilty last year to wire fraud and money laundering charges. Judge Seeger on Nov. 8, 2024, sentenced Aniukwu to 10 years in prison.”

Meanwhile, Jennifer Gosha, an accomplice of the Nigerians and a US citizen, is expected to be sentenced on December 18 after pleading guilty.

“A third defendant, Jennifer Gosha, 52, a U.S. citizen from Oak Park, Ill., pleaded guilty earlier this year to charges of wire fraud and making false statements to a federal agent. Gosha is scheduled to be sentenced by Judge Seeger on December 18, 2024,” the statement concluded.