German Builders Warn Visa Cut Would Cost 9,000 Workers
Berlin – November 03, 2026 -- Germany's construction industry says a planned halving of the Western Balkans visa scheme would leave the sector almost 9,000 workers short, according to calculations by the Central Association of the German Construction Industry (ZDB). The federal cabinet is due to discuss the cut on Wednesday.
Labor ministry draft would cap first-time approvals at 25,000 from 2027
Under a draft from the Federal Ministry of Labour, the Federal Employment Agency would grant only 25,000 initial approvals per year from January 1, 2027, down from 50,000. The scheme links legal labor migration to a concrete job offer. The ZDB is urging the government not to wave the reduction through.