The Confusion in My Head!

It is true: my beloved Germany dislikes losing track of its people. The authorities definitely aren’t happy about that. Some say people aren't registered, others call them undocumented, and some even use the term illegal. It’s no wonder I am feeling confused!

Sometimes, I wonder if this mess is the fault of the politicians who make the rules or the bureaucrats who try to enforce them. Let me be clear: I’m not trying to add to your confusion. The main issue is that Germany needs lots of workers to fill empty jobs so our companies and institutions can thrive. We’re even flying all the way to Africa and Asia, asking people to come help us out. I’m going to focus on the healthcare sector here, where my confusion really ramps up.

Unfortunately, I recently got food poisoning and had to go to the hospital. When I arrived, I was shocked to see so many other patients in pain and not enough doctors to go around. I ended up crying like a baby!

The young doctor, with a migrant background on duty looked overwhelmed, running around trying to assist everyone. But hey, at least he’ll earn good money.

What about the patients? though, a lot of them were older than me, and I’m not exactly young. Is this just a coincidence? Many care homes are also closing because they can’t find enough healthcare workers. Both of these situations are really confusing. The last time I visited a care home, I noticed the washrooms weren't as clean as I expect in Germany, which was surprising.

Let’s keep going with our confusion. It sounds like a nice idea to bring in workers from other countries to help our labour force. But hold on! It’s become so complicated that you can’t just pack your bags and catch a flight to Germany to start working. You need a whole team of experts to tell you what to do.

It’s as if there are eager, capable young people back in their home countries, ready to help us, but the very people who need help are stuck behind a wall of red tape. And let’s not forget about the thousands of African youth who fled the war in Ukraine and came to Germany. Many of them are struggling to find their place here. Some are qualified doctors, while others have learned German and studied hard, yet they still feel hopeless. Many would be willing to accept jobs below their qualifications just to stay. The foreign office is making things even tougher for them: “It's like, yes, I want to work, but I’m not sure how. It’s just not as simple as I thought!”

It's like saying, 'We want you, but we're not sure what we want.' Or maybe it's just not exactly what they had in mind. I hope you understand why I'm feeling more confused than ever.

I get it, we are an important country, with about 1% of the world’s population, and one of the largest economies. Yes, I’m confused, but can we please stop making things harder for ourselves?

If you ever get the chance to visit Germany, make sure to go through the proper channels. The authorities really don’t like it when people try to sneak in, they’ll make your life miserable. If you’re an expert or well-educated, there are ways to enter Germany so you can work legally and enjoy your time here!

Desmond John Beddy