Employer Subsidy from the Jobcenter: Support for Businesses and Job Seekers
Interview with Daniel Beckmann from Munich Jobcenter
It is common for companies in Germany to hesitate to hire foreigners; this could be due to many reasons, including a lack of experience or language abilities. The Jobcenter Munich offers insight into how people and companies can
receive support through the Job Center and ReDI School.
There’s a problem why they don’t hire people because their language skills are not high enough. For example, office jobs require a B2 or C1 level of German.
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Q: How can the Munich Job Center help ReDI students and companies?
A: We have a new tool called Professional Language Course, and if an employer hires a person who does not yet have sufficient language skills, you can use the in-house funding to get a German class for three people or more, who will then teach the German language specifically for the job. They offer around one hundred to one hundred and fifty language lessons beginning at an A2 level.
Q: How does the Job Center support ReDI Students and others?
A: The Job Center offers an Integration Grant. Let me explain it with an example. An employer wants to hire someone, and this person is not familiar with the company’s programs, so there is a possibility of applying for an integration subsidy. These are adapted to the situation and are intended to support the employer in compensating for the reduced performance. I think it’s our biggest tool.
Q: Does it depend on the company’s size to access these resources?
A: The size of the company does not matter
Q: What requirements are there?
A: If a company has someone who isn’t quite at the language or job skill level yet or is underperforming for any particular reason, they are able to get financial aid through the job center. This helps the person working at that company for at least six months as they learn and work. This also applies to interns.
As a company, you can call the Job Center or send us an email explaining the need. The Job Center will then send you a letter for further explanation.
Q: What does the process look like?
A: You submit the application quickly and easily directly to the job center for which the new employee is responsible, where you will then receive further information. So if you go to
from the company’s perspective, you go to the job center with their company number and make it known to the Job Center that you would like to hire that person. They will ask some questions along the lines of why
Q: How long is the process?
A: It is also individualized, but I would normally say it is fast.
Q: How much support can be expected?
A: It is dependent on the person. It is on a case-by-case base
Q: What would be helpful for companies to know about funding or hiring ReDI learners?
A: I would say try to hire people from the job center because they are typically really nice and always thankful for the chance. But as a company, if you’re secure and brave, then yes, you will find some good employees. Try to give them a chance, they’re good people.