Diversity is not a trend, but a significant driver of business success

The hairdresser from Pakistan, the doctor from Syria, the engineer from Iran, the IT specialist from India, and the Italian or Vietnamese restaurant around the corner – all of this is taken for granted in Germany. This can successfully be achieved when diverse teams of people are provided with work environments that allow everyone – young and old, from near or far, and across all genders – to reach their full potential. Although this poses an initial challenge for companies, in the long run, it leads to innovation, enhanced competitiveness and strengthens business growth. And as a positive side effect, the existing workforce benefits from this diversity which opens up new perspectives on the world.

Companies play a key role in integration in the workplace. They are the ones who can ensure immigrants are respected and appreciated – be that through collaboration within the teams, individual development concepts or, of course, through remuneration. Companies serve as bridge-builders with society. Integration in the workplace can only be successful if the social space, recreational opportunities and the process of settling into a new environment are taken into account as well. The Wirtschaft für ein Weltoffenes Sachsen e.V. business association is committed to actively shaping the potential of migration and integration and making the benefits visible to companies, society and the public at large.

The business perspective: Opportunities not shortcomings

In public debates about integration, the focus is often on the shortcomings of immigrants. Let's flip the whole thing around and focus instead on the opportunities. Businesses provide training, create employment prospects and, through targeted integration measures, make essential contributions to participation in society.

Successful integration does not merely mean offering people a job; it involves embedding them into both company and societal structures in the long term. This requires a sincere commitment from companies and the right conditions are essential to this process.

Germany as a reluctant immigration country

Germany is certainly an immigration country. But when we look at the legal situation, it often seems as though it has acquired this status against its will. This is one of the main reasons Germany is an increasingly unattractive destination for potential immigrants – not to mention the challenge of mastering a difficult language and navigating the complexities of German bureaucracy.

Companies need support for successful integration

1. Reduction of bureaucratic hurdles for labour migration: Many companies fail at integration due to the complexity of the legal requirements. Not only are the current bureaucratic hurdles overwhelming the companies themselves, but also government agencies such as the immigration authorities. The Skilled Immigration Act is a step in the right direction, but it is still far too complicated.
2. Access to education and language support: The promotion of job-specific language skills leads to successful integration in the workplace and, as a positive side effect, also makes it easier for people to chat with their neighbours. We should not be skimping on programmes that support companies in organising and conducting language courses – on the contrary, these need to be expanded.
3. Open-minded employers: For successful collaboration, it is beneficial if companies invest specifically in integration concepts and cooperate with integration managers. Intercultural training and mentoring programmes help both immigrants and the existing workforce. This requires support.
4. Funding programmes for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs): Since they do not have their own resources for integration initiatives, SMEs, in particular, benefit from targeted support, such as funding or a variety of advisory services.

Real-life examples: Integration that works

Some of the services our member companies offer are tandem programmes for experienced and new employees, language courses integrated into everyday working life, or targeted promotion of women with refugee backgrounds. It is crucial that, when it comes to integration, hearts and minds go hand in hand. In light of this, we offer companies training programmes with a focus on integration issues and provide opportunities for an exchange of ideas and experience between the different companies in our network – there’s no need to reinvent the wheel!

Building bridges between Anna from Altkötzschenbroda and Bashar from Damascus

Our aim is to build a bridge between business practice and migration policy objectives. Companies can fulfil their responsibility to secure skilled workers and make a significant contribution to social integration – provided the conditions are right. Society as a whole benefits from this because work integration is the key to successful integration in society.