The German government wants to bring in foreign workers, mainly from Turkey, to limit the damage. The first ones are probably expected in August, when it may be too late.
A real tragedy is unfolding at German airports for those who have planned vacations during the summer months. Tourists with their families and with suitcases in hand try the obvious: to get to their vacation spot having paid a not insignificant amount for airline tickets. But there is not enough staff to handle the whole process up to the door of the aircraft. And this at best. Because many can not even get there.
The solution of foreign workers
Many airlines, unable to cope with the increased tourist traffic due to the season, cancel many flights. The other day Lufthansa canceled 2,200 of the 80,000 flights from its program focusing on Frankfurt and Munich, flights between German or European destinations, offering alternative flights or rail connections. The same fate befalls those who have booked with low-cost airlines. The problem is that there is a lack of staff. They are missing in particular 7,200 employees, which seems to be because at the time of the pandemic there was no traffic at airports, they looked for employment elsewhere. But how will the problem be dealt with, especially shortly before July? Three substantive ministers are joining forces to find a solution, albeit one by one. In a joint press conference, Transport Ministers Volker Vissing, Labor Hubertus Hale and Home Secretary Nancy Feser presented an action plan based primarily on the temporary employment of foreigners to assist with check-in and security. In addition, an inter-ministerial working group will be set up to implement the measures.
Employment of foreigners will be facilitated by speeding up the procedures for obtaining residence and work permits. Nancy Feser clarified that despite the pressing conditions, no compromises will be made on security issues and foreign workers will be subjected to the same controls as everyone else. “The government wants to speed up the bureaucracy and all the procedures that will be needed,” said Hubertus Hale. Employees should be employed directly by ground handling companies on the basis of collective agreements. Requests from the industry for leasing through other companies will not be met. In addition, workers must have humane living conditions and not live like people in caves. “The German government is not going to allow any social dumping,” he said.
Let the companies find solutions themselves
But how quickly will all this happen? Conditions are tightening, passengers want to live a normal summer for the first time without suffocating pandemic measures and airlines want to lift the two-year-old restrictive measures. But none of the three ministers can guarantee when the new employees will get a job. The tourism industry hopes to 1500 to 2,000 employees mainly from Turkey and the Balkan countries. “They may be the first to arrive in August at the earliest, but when it’s too late,” Thomas Richter, head of the Association of Land Service Providers at airports, told Reuters in a recent interview. “The problem is not solved, but the measure certainly helps.” All three ministers are washing their hands and do not consider themselves responsible for the situation. “Ultimately it is a private sector problem that can only be solved by companies,” said Transport Minister Volker Wissing of the Liberals. “During the pandemic many jobs were cut, this is not a permanent solution. Companies can not create problems and “empty” them in front of the state door. The industry must solve the personnel problems on its own in the medium term “.
The statements of Hubertus Hale from the Social Democratic Party are in the same direction. “Companies have a duty and it is in their interest to be attractive employers. After all, it is their customers who suffer from chaos. “During the pandemic, the state massively extended a helping hand to airlines and airport operators.” The German Aviation Industry Association (BDL), however, welcomed the government’s help. Mainly the fact that the proposal was made to use staff from airport operators for security checks. But as if all this were not enough, yesterday started episodically. There were short-term failures in the German air traffic control system with the installation of new software, resulting in many flights being affected. Finally, at 09.00, the air traffic was restored.
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