Business calls for more immigration under the Western Balkans regulation

Economy: More workers from the Western Balkans

The labor shortage in Germany continues to worsen – not just in industry and retail, but especially in the hospitality sector. Thomas Geppert, regional director of the Bavarian Hotel and Restaurant Association (Dehoga) , sums it up: "The workers there want to work, and we need them, but we're not letting them in." This statement goes to the heart of a problem that is no longer just a concern for industry insiders. More and more companies – including major corporations like Deutsche Post and Deutsche Bahn – are calling for clear, needs-based, and unbureaucratic labor migration. At the heart of this is an existing regulation: the so-called Western Balkan Regulation .

The Western Balkans Regulation in Practice

The Western Balkans Regulation ( Section 26 (2) of the Employment Regulations ) allows nationals of six non-EU countries – Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo, Montenegro, North Macedonia, and Serbia – access to the German labor market even without formal qualifications , provided they have a specific job offer and approval from the Federal Employment Agency . The Federal Employment Agency verifies whether wages and working conditions meet German standards and then assigns the customer number required for booking appointments. The regulation thus protects the German labor market – while simultaneously filling urgently needed positions.

Political debate: Ideology instead of reality?

Despite these clear and advantageous mechanisms, the German Federal Government has announced that it will reduce the annual maximum number of eligible applications under the Western Balkans Regulation to 25,000 starting in 2026 – after having only increased it to 50,000 in June 2024. This step, according to many practitioners, such as Thomas Geppert, is purely ideological. Other stakeholders have also shown some reservation in the past, though not complete opposition, toward a moderate further development of the Western Balkans Regulation. Nevertheless, a fundamental majority for an effective continuation of the Western Balkans Regulation currently appears to be lacking.

Employers want legal migration – why is it blocked?

What's striking is that the most vocal supporters of the Western Balkans Regulation are not NGOs or academics, but employers . Deutsche Post, Deutsche Bahn, numerous medium-sized businesses, and restaurant owners openly state: "We can't find anyone – and we want to employ these people." For many jobs, such as in warehouses, kitchens, housekeeping, or construction, no academic qualifications are required. What matters is motivation, reliability – and a legally compliant framework. This is precisely what the Western Balkans Regulation creates. So why create barriers instead of removing them?

Conclusion: No immigration without jobs – but also no staffing without immigration

The Western Balkans Regulation is not an immigration privilege, but a control instrument. It only allows those people to come to Germany who have a specific job – with a proper employment contract. It protects against exploitation and guarantees fair conditions. It is thus a prime example of effective labor migration. Germany cannot afford to turn away willing and needed workers. Those who cling to ideological quotas in times of demographic change, growing skills shortages, and overburdened companies endanger not only industries but also the economic stability of our country.