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Mediation agreements
All important information on the placement agreements of the Federal Employment Agency (BA) with other countries.
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what mediation agreements are
what mediation agreements exist
what the Triple Win program is
everything about the BA's placement monopoly in the nursing sector
1. What are mediation agreements?
2. With which countries do mediation agreements exist?
3. Triple Win Program (placement in nursing)
4. Placement monopoly of the Federal Employment Agency
5. FAQ
6. Conclusion Mediation agreements
1. What are mediation agreements?
Placement agreements are bilateral agreements concluded by the Federal Employment Agency with third countries to facilitate the targeted recruitment of foreign skilled workers for the German labor market. In some cases, placement agreements also exist that allow the immigration of unskilled workers (e.g., for seasonal work). Placement agreements regulate the legal framework for labor migration and ensure a structured and transparent recruitment process. Especially in sectors with acute skills shortages, such as the healthcare sector, placement agreements enable the effective and legally secure integration of international workers.
Both employers and skilled workers benefit from these placement agreements: Companies receive regulated access to qualified employees, while foreign skilled workers can take up employment in Germany under fair conditions. Furthermore, these agreements ensure compliance with labor law standards and that migration takes place on a sustainable and cooperative basis. Ultimately, placement agreements are also a political tool, as the employment of foreign workers in Germany has bilateral negotiating value (e.g., in the return of asylum seekers from Georgia and Moldova).
2. With which countries do mediation agreements exist?
A response to a parliamentary question from the AfD parliamentary group in the Bundestag reveals that the following mediation agreements currently exist:
Bosnia and Herzegovina (since 04/2013): Health and care professionals
Brazil (since 06/2022): Health and care professionals
India (since 12/2021 – 09/2026) (Kerala only): Health and nursing professionals
Indonesia (since 07/2021): Health and care professionals
Jordan (since 05/2022): Health and care professionals
Philippines (since 03/2013): Health and nursing professionals
Tunisia (since 07/2013): Health and care professionals
Colombia (since 12/2021 – 12/2026): Electronics technician in industrial engineering, electronics technician in IT systems engineering, gardener; expanded to include health and care professionals,
Mechatronics engineer, metalworker; expanded to include educator
Morocco (from July 2023 to December 31, 2024): Occupations in the construction and electrical sectors
Mexico (since December 2021): Health and care professionals, cooks, hotel/restaurant workers
In addition to these placement agreements, there are additional intergovernmental agreements with Georgia and Moldova. To meet labor demand in agriculture, individuals from Georgia and Moldova can be employed in accordance with Section 15a, Paragraph 1, Sentence 1, Number 1 of the Employment Ordinance .
3. Triple Win Program (placement in nursing)
The shortage of skilled workers in the German nursing sector poses a major challenge. The Triple Win Program offers a sustainable solution by placing skilled nurses from third countries in Germany. Since 2013, the program has enabled the recruitment of already trained professionals from Bosnia-Herzegovina, the Philippines, Tunisia, Indonesia, India (Kerala), and Jordan, who undergo recognition training here. Since 2019, the program has been expanded to include young Vietnamese professionals for a three-year generalist nursing training program in Germany. The goal is to prepare qualified nurses linguistically and professionally for the job market and thus contribute to securing long-term care provision.
The program is supported by the International Placement Agency (ZAV) of the Federal Employment Agency (BA) and the German Society for International Cooperation (GIZ). Both organizations guarantee a transparent and secure placement process that guarantees high quality standards. Placement agreements with the employment agencies of the partner countries ensure that only nurses from countries with a surplus of skilled workers are recruited, preventing a nursing shortage in the countries of origin. Furthermore, mandatory minimum salaries and training allowances ensure that the placed nurses are fairly compensated and subject to the same rights and obligations as German skilled workers.
Triple Win not only offers German employers a long-term solution to the nursing staff shortage but also creates new career prospects for international professionals . Employers benefit from nurses who are linguistically and professionally well-prepared, while migrants can build a sustainable future in Germany through a fair process. The program supports nurses from visa application to integration into the workplace, ensuring successful integration. Triple Win thus makes an important contribution to the stable and sustainable recruitment of skilled workers in the German nursing sector.
4. Placement monopoly of the Federal Employment Agency
In the nursing sector, the Federal Employment Agency holds a placement monopoly. According to Section 38 of the Employment Regulations (BeschV) , recruitment in certain countries or job placement from certain countries for employment in health and nursing professions may only be carried out by the Federal Employment Agency. The monopoly list currently includes 55 countries (see appendix to Section 38 BeschV). The placement ban primarily affects African countries and is intended to protect the labor market in the nursing sector there. According to Section 39 BeschV, a violation of the Federal Employment Agency's placement ban in the nursing sector constitutes an administrative offense that can be punished with a fine.
5. FAQ
What are placement agreements of the Federal Employment Agency?
Placement agreements are bilateral agreements between the Federal Employment Agency and third countries that create the legal framework for the structured recruitment of foreign skilled workers.
With which countries do mediation agreements currently exist?
Placement agreements exist with, among others, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Brazil, India (Kerala), Indonesia, Jordan, Colombia, Morocco, Mexico, the Philippines, and Tunisia. In addition, there are intergovernmental agreements with Georgia and Moldova for specific sectors, such as seasonal work under Section 15a of the Employment Ordinance.
What is the Triple Win program?
The Triple Win Programme is a joint initiative of the Federal Employment Agency (ZAV) and GIZ to place nursing professionals from third countries in Germany.
6. Conclusion
Placement agreements are a key tool in German labor migration, enabling the targeted and legally secure recruitment of qualified professionals from third countries for the German labor market. Especially in the care sector, programs like Triple Win make a significant contribution to securing skilled workers and guarantee fair working conditions and high quality standards. Both German employers and international skilled workers benefit from these bilateral agreements, while also ensuring that the countries of origin do not suffer a shortage of skilled workers.
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List of Sources (Paywall)
[1] Offer/Mävers, Employment Ordinance, 2nd edition 2022, § 2