Bavarian Dehoga leader advocates for increased immigration from the Western Balkan region
In a recent statement to Redaktionsnetzwerk Deutschland (RND), Thomas Geppert, the personnel director of Deutsche Bahn, has advocated for targeted immigration from the Western Balkans to address the growing labor and skills shortage in Germany. His sentiments were echoed by Thomas Ogilvie, the personnel director of Deutsche Post, who also called for more immigration to alleviate the issue.
Geppert expressed concern about the potential closure of businesses in rural areas, stating that it could lead to the decline of villages. He emphasized the need for legal migration into the labor market with proper employment contracts. Ogilvie, on the other hand, emphasized the need for controlled immigration with minimal bureaucratic hurdles for basic positions.
The lack of qualified workers is causing strain on Germany's economy, particularly in sectors such as hospitality. Geppert stated that there is a demand for workers from the Western Balkans, but current immigration policies are not allowing enough of them into the country.
Last June, the traffic light coalition increased the annual limit of regular migration from the Western Balkans to Germany from 25,000 to 50,000 people. However, Geppert finds this number inadequate to fill the vacant positions.
Germany's immigration policies for workers from the Western Balkans are framed within broader EU migration reforms and respond to labor shortages in sectors such as hospitality. The government actively participates in EU-wide efforts to reduce illegal migration, improve migration management, and streamline work-related immigration, including for third-country nationals from the Western Balkans.
Strict border and migration controls remain in place to prevent illegal migration, with Germany working jointly with neighboring countries and EU partners to monitor migratory pressure. Legal immigration options for skilled and semi-skilled workers from the Western Balkans are available but subject to Germany’s labor market tests and visa regulations specific to non-EU nationals.
Germany has piloted or expanded visa facilitation and recruitment programs to attract seasonal and permanent workers from the Western Balkans and other third countries. The approach aligns with EU-wide frameworks focusing on harmonizing asylum, returns, and work immigration policies to create a managed and sustainable labor migration system.
However, no recent policy changes specific to the hospitality sector and Western Balkan workers were highlighted in the available July 2025 data. Ongoing EU reforms and cross-border cooperation are shaping a controlled, pragmatic approach to such labor migration.
Sources: ntv.de, mbr/rts/AFP.
Notably, Geppert compared the potential scenario to American conditions, with fast-food restaurants dominating in populated areas and high-end dining only available in select locations. The Dehoga chief also criticized the federal government's plan to limit regular migration to Germany under the so-called Western Balkans regulation.
This call for increased immigration comes as the hospitality industry in Germany faces notable labor shortages, with workers from the Western Balkans being an important source of labor due to the region's high emigration rates and workforce mobility.
- To address the growing labor shortages, particularly in the hospitality sector, and facilitate economic growth, Thomas Geppert suggests a community policy that encourages targeted immigration from the Western Balkans, offering vocational training programs to new immigrants in the finance and business industries.
- In order to meet the rising demand for skilled workers, Deutsche Bahn's personnel director, Thomas Geppert, advocates for policies that simplify migration processes, reduce bureaucratic hurdles, and offer vocational training to ensure a smooth integration of immigrants into various industries, including vocational training programs for workers from the Western Balkans.
