A win-win-win situation – more nurses for Germany
Germany has a shortage of nursing staff, yet many qualified skilled workers abroad are unable to find work. The Triple Win programme brings both sides together in a way that is fair and reliable.
German hospitals and care facilities are united in their message: ‘We urgently need more staff.’ The pressure is mounting. According to Germany’s Federal Statistical Office, the number of people requiring care will rise to as many as 8.2 million by 2055. If the country is to meet this increased demand, it will need at least 150,000 additional nurses by 2040.
Digital solutions and artificial intelligence may make work easier in many fields, but one thing is clear: nursing care needs people. While there is a shortage of nurses in Germany, there are many qualified professionals in countries outside the EU who cannot find work. This is precisely where the Triple Win programme comes in. Implemented by GIZ in cooperation with the German Federal Employment Agency (BA), Triple Win brings the two sides together, provides support and thus creates benefits for all involved – for German institutions, the care workers themselves and their countries of origin.
In cooperation with the German Federal Employment Agency (BA), GIZ has found placements for more than 8,000 nursing professionals and trainees from partner countries in around 400 health care and nursing facilities in Germany through the Triple Win programme since 2013, and over 6,000 of them have already arrived in the country. According to a survey, more than 90 per cent of recruited staff are happy with their new employers and would recommend the service to others. Triple Win currently organises placements for nursing staff from the Indian states of Kerala and Telangana, from Indonesia, the Philippines and Tunisia, as well as trainees from Kerala.
A pioneer in fair skilled labour migration
Triple Win has been organising placements for nursing staff and trainees from non-EU countries on behalf of German hospitals and care facilities since 2013 and is now considered a pioneer in fair, ethical and sustainable skilled labour migration. ‘Triple Win has set standards in many areas, contributed to the development of quality criteria for the Fair Recruitment Healthcare Germany seal and inspired other providers and countries with its approaches,’ explains Björn Gruber, Head of Labour Migration and Skills Partnerships at GIZ.
The programme has attracted high-level international recognition: Triple Win has been commended for its best practices by the International Organization for Migration and the International Trade Union Confederation.
This recognition comes, in particular, for the way the programme observes international rules on fair migration. This approach benefits all parties involved. Skilled workers can live and work in Germany under fair conditions. The countries of origin benefit because unemployment falls and the nurses send financial remittances to their respective home countries. And in Germany, hospitals and nursing facilities are able to find trained staff to fill their vacancies.
Careful selection and reliable processes
For the placement process to work, clear rules have to be in place. In finding placements for skilled workers and trainees, Triple Win works exclusively with countries that have a surplus of nursing staff – the Philippines, Tunisia, Indonesia and the Indian states of Kerala and Telangana. The programme is based on placement agreements between the German Federal Employment Agency (BA) and the respective partner countries. The employment agencies of the partner countries are closely involved. They provide information to prospective applicants, publish job advertisements and support the application process. Selection interviews are conducted in the partner country to ensure that only suitable candidates arrive in Germany. As this is a cooperation programme between partners under German public law, employers can rest assured that their qualifications are eligible for recognition in Germany and that all documents have been thoroughly checked.
health care and nursing facilities in Germany have made use of Triple Win’s skilled labour placement services.
Support from the outset
Nursing staff take courses to learn the German language and complete a preparatory programme led by trainers qualified in nursing education that will prepare them for life and work in Germany. Many of the trainers have a migrant background themselves and know from their own experience the kinds of questions and challenges that may arise. Bridges between Germany and the nursing staff are built in the country of origin.
The programme also includes aspects of care for the elderly. In addition, there is a one-day orientation course that prepares participants for living and working in Germany – from dealing with administrative formalities to everyday life in their new environment.
Also of growing importance are training partnerships – global skills partnerships that have been set up in cooperation with universities in Germany and various partner countries to prepare skilled workers for the German labour market during their training.
Guaranteed planning certainty for employers
Employers are also closely involved. For them, the collaboration first and foremost means planning security and a reduced workload, because skilled workers will already have been prepared for their tasks linguistically, professionally and culturally, all the official administrative steps have been organised and all qualifications checked. This saves institutions time and resources spent on staff recruitment, enables them to fill vacancies reliably and offers benefits in the form of highly integrated and motivated employees.
‘It’s important to us that nursing staff do not feel they’re on their own,’ says Gruber. ‘We’re with them every step of the way – from professional preparation and recognition of their qualifications to their start in a new working environment.’
Positive feedback from the participants
There are challenges, of course, ranging from learning German to obtaining official recognition of their training. But the feedback has been positive. The nursing staff feel integrated, can develop professionally and build new futures for themselves in Germany. Many also complete additional training courses, laying down firm foundations for their future careers. ‘For the individuals involved, for the institutions and for the countries of origin, we create prospects that transcend the initial job,’ says Gruber.
