Germany’s Economics Minister Robert Habeck’s recent proposal for gradual tax relief for foreign workers has ignited intense criticism from various political factions, accusing it of discriminating against German nationals.
The German government has unveiled its preliminary budget plans after months of political turbulence, which nearly toppled Chancellor Olaf Scholz’s ruling coalition. Among these proposals, Habeck’s suggestion to offer skilled foreign workers a tax break has been particularly contentious. The plan, which includes a tax break of 30% for the first year, reduced to 10% after three years, aims to attract foreign talent to address Germany’s significant skills gap.
Habeck defended his proposal, citing successful implementations in Austria and the Netherlands. “If more skilled workers come to Germany because they want to work here or take advantage of these benefits, then we all win,” he stated.
However, the proposal has faced sharp criticism from across the political spectrum. The centre-right Christian Democratic Union’s (CDU) economic policy spokesperson, Julia Klöckner, labelled it “discrimination against the country’s residents.” Similarly, CSU General Secretary Martin Huber condemned the plan as “preferential tax treatment,” calling it “scandalous.”
The far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) party, known for its anti-immigration stance, described the proposal as “a slap in the face for hard-working German workers.” The Left Party’s Susanne Ferschl also criticised the policy, arguing it unfairly favoured foreign skilled workers over other immigrants, potentially violating the principle of equality enshrined in Germany’s constitution.
Despite the backlash, the head of the German Trade Union Confederation, Yasmin Fahimi, called the proposal “socially explosive,” acknowledging the necessity of foreign workers to maintain Germany’s competitiveness. The Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) noted that Germany has slipped from 12th to 15th place in attractiveness to foreigners. A skills shortage in key industries is reportedly costing the German economy €29 billion annually, a ten-fold increase since 2010.
Habeck remains steadfast, arguing that the strategy’s success in Austria and the Netherlands justifies its potential application in Germany. “It’s worth a try,” he said, emphasising the urgency of addressing the skills gap.
The budget negotiations, concluded last Friday, nearly caused a political meltdown within Germany’s ruling coalition. The three governing parties—the centre-left Social Democratic Party (SPD), the neoliberal Free Democratic Party (FDP), and the centre-left Green Party—struggled to balance fiscal responsibility with necessary spending, all while adhering to Germany’s constitutional debt limit.
Other controversial aspects of the draft budget include limited spending on defence and European security, which could lead to further clashes with international partners, particularly regarding support for Ukraine.
Germany’s coalition government is experiencing a decline in popularity. In the recent European elections, the ruling parties were outperformed by the centre-right CDU and the far-right AfD despite the latter being embroiled in several scandals.
As Germany grapples with economic challenges and political instability, Habeck’s tax relief proposal exemplifies the difficult balancing act facing the government. Whether this policy will help attract the skilled workforce needed to sustain Germany’s economic growth remains to be seen, but it has undoubtedly sparked a crucial debate on the country’s future direction.