Publish: 21:22, 13 Dec, 2024

German hospitals fear labour shortages if Syrians return home

Online Desk
German hospitals fear labour shortages if Syrians return home
Symbolic

German hospitals and other employers fear worker shortages if many Syrian refugees return home after the fall of president Bashar al-Assad, a concern backed by a study released Friday.

Health care providers have warned that more than 5,000 Syrian doctors work in German medical facilities, often in rural areas, and that they and other staff would be hard to replace.

Europe's biggest economy has taken in around one million refugees from war-ravaged Syria in an influx that peaked in 2015 under ex-chancellor Angela Merkel.

While they were initially greeted warmly, the mass arrivals sparked a backlash that fuelled the rise of the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) party.

Since the fall of Assad, conservative and AfD politicians have called for Syrians to return to their homeland despite lingering insecurity there.

Many employers fear this could worsen fast-ageing Germany's labour shortages, a concern backed by a study of the Institute for Employment Research released on Friday.

Large-scale returns "could have noticeable regional and sector-specific effects -- especially in those sectors, fields of activity and regions that are already suffering from a shortage of labour," said institute researcher Yuliya Kosyakova.

It said that 287,000 Syrian nationals are employed in Germany, with many who arrived in recent years still enrolled in language and so-called integration courses.

Syrian men work mostly in transport and logistics, manufacturing, food and hospitality, health and construction, while women were more strongly represented in social and cultural services, it said.

News magazine Der Spiegel reported that 5,758 Syrian medical doctors work in Germany, citing data from the German Medical Association.

"We can understand that many of them want to return to their homeland and are urgently needed there," German Hospital Association chairman Gerald Gass told the magazine.

But he warned that they play an important role, especially in smaller towns, and warned: "If they leave Germany in large numbers, this will undoubtedly be felt in the staffing levels."

With many Syrians also employed as care workers, their departure would be a "serious blow for elderly care", Nursing Employers' Association director Isabell Halletz told news channel NTV.

AFP

Bd-Pratidin English/ARK

More News
Iran secretly developing nuclear missiles, can hit Europe: Report
Iran secretly developing nuclear missiles, can hit Europe: Report
Trump’s ‘immoral’ Gaza plan includes ‘international crime’
Trump’s ‘immoral’ Gaza plan includes ‘international crime’
Trump administration to withdraw most USAID workers
Trump administration to withdraw most USAID workers
World reaction to Trump’s ‘take over’ plan for Gaza
World reaction to Trump’s ‘take over’ plan for Gaza
Palestinian president to attend Victory Day parade in Moscow
Palestinian president to attend Victory Day parade in Moscow
Afghan Taliban suspend women's radio station
Afghan Taliban suspend women's radio station
Jewish population in West Bank keeps rising
Jewish population in West Bank keeps rising
‘Gaza is not for sale’: Americans take to streets
‘Gaza is not for sale’: Americans take to streets
CIA's entire staff offered buyouts to quit: WSJ report
CIA's entire staff offered buyouts to quit: WSJ report
US Postal Service stops accepting parcels from China
US Postal Service stops accepting parcels from China
Spanish ministers agree to cut working week to 37.5 hours
Spanish ministers agree to cut working week to 37.5 hours
What did US get from deals to pause tariffs on Canada and Mexico?
What did US get from deals to pause tariffs on Canada and Mexico?
Latest News
Over 300 secret lockers found in BB
Over 300 secret lockers found in BB
just now | National
Protesters storm Dhanmondi 32
Protesters storm Dhanmondi 32
55 minutes ago | City
Zaima Rahman reaches Washington DC to join National Prayer Breakfast
Zaima Rahman reaches Washington DC to join National Prayer Breakfast
1 hour ago | National
Iran secretly developing nuclear missiles, can hit Europe: Report
Iran secretly developing nuclear missiles, can hit Europe: Report
1 hour ago | International
'Load shedding likely in summer, not Ramadan'
'Load shedding likely in summer, not Ramadan'
1 hour ago | National
25 arrested in anti-crime drive at city
25 arrested in anti-crime drive at city
2 hours ago | City
Trump’s ‘immoral’ Gaza plan includes ‘international crime’
Trump’s ‘immoral’ Gaza plan includes ‘international crime’
2 hours ago | International
Saudi Ambassador hopeful of resolving passport issues of 69,000 people
Saudi Ambassador hopeful of resolving passport issues of 69,000 people
2 hours ago | National
Valentine’s celebration of love and indulgence at Dhaka Regency
Valentine’s celebration of love and indulgence at Dhaka Regency
3 hours ago | Lifestyle
Saikat to showcase umpiring skills in Champions Trophy
Saikat to showcase umpiring skills in Champions Trophy
3 hours ago | Sports
CA urges all to accept reform reports
CA urges all to accept reform reports
3 hours ago | National
Firsttrip launches B2C with buy one, get one free offer
Firsttrip launches B2C with buy one, get one free offer
4 hours ago | Corporate Corner
No income tax on foreign doctors’ fees for treating July Uprising injured
No income tax on foreign doctors’ fees for treating July Uprising injured
4 hours ago | National
Govt to unveil 'July Proclamation' after all-party consensus on reforms
Govt to unveil 'July Proclamation' after all-party consensus on reforms
4 hours ago | National
Reform Commission proposes 4 provinces, 2 new divisions
Reform Commission proposes 4 provinces, 2 new divisions
4 hours ago | National
Central African Republic Armed Forces Chief calls on Chief of Army Staff
Central African Republic Armed Forces Chief calls on Chief of Army Staff
4 hours ago | National
New political party coming as existing ones fail
New political party coming as existing ones fail
5 hours ago | National
Reform commission proposes fewer ministries for better governance
Reform commission proposes fewer ministries for better governance
5 hours ago | National
Trump administration to withdraw most USAID workers
Trump administration to withdraw most USAID workers
5 hours ago | International
Ex-minister Anisul placed on 3-day remand
Ex-minister Anisul placed on 3-day remand
5 hours ago | National
World reaction to Trump’s ‘take over’ plan for Gaza
World reaction to Trump’s ‘take over’ plan for Gaza
5 hours ago | International
Interpol to issue red notice soon against ICT-wanted criminals: IGP Hopes
Interpol to issue red notice soon against ICT-wanted criminals: IGP Hopes
6 hours ago | National
Palestinian president to attend Victory Day parade in Moscow
Palestinian president to attend Victory Day parade in Moscow
6 hours ago | International
DoE urges city dwellers to wear face masks
DoE urges city dwellers to wear face masks
6 hours ago | City
Australia faces double injury blow before Champions Trophy
Australia faces double injury blow before Champions Trophy
6 hours ago | Sports
AL cannot join politics under its current name: Salahuddin
AL cannot join politics under its current name: Salahuddin
6 hours ago | National
Dr Zahid for taking steps to prevent foul plays in capital market
Dr Zahid for taking steps to prevent foul plays in capital market
6 hours ago | Business
Ship with 50,200 MT Argentine wheat arrives at Ctg port
Ship with 50,200 MT Argentine wheat arrives at Ctg port
6 hours ago | Business
2 reform commissions submit reports to CA
2 reform commissions submit reports to CA
6 hours ago | National
Rizwana calls for effective action against plastic pollution, clarifies government stance on single-use plastics
Rizwana calls for effective action against plastic pollution, clarifies government stance on single-use plastics
7 hours ago | National
Most Read
Awami League ruined country's interests to stay in power: Ishraque
Awami League ruined country's interests to stay in power: Ishraque
22 hours ago | National
Elon Musk's claims of harm from OpenAI are a 'stretch'
Elon Musk's claims of harm from OpenAI are a 'stretch'
8 hours ago | Tech
Dhaka to roll out counter-based pink buses Thursday
Dhaka to roll out counter-based pink buses Thursday
10 hours ago | City
Second phase of Bishwa Ijtema concluded with Akheri Munajat
Second phase of Bishwa Ijtema concluded with Akheri Munajat
10 hours ago | National
Nepal bans solo climbs on Everest, mountains above 8000m
Nepal bans solo climbs on Everest, mountains above 8000m
7 hours ago | Lifestyle
Electricity sector faces pressure due to arrears payments
Electricity sector faces pressure due to arrears payments
7 hours ago | Special
Vertical Mastercard credit card launched for ICMAB members
Vertical Mastercard credit card launched for ICMAB members
23 hours ago | Corporate Corner
2C climate target declared impossible: Study
2C climate target declared impossible: Study
12 hours ago | International
Another day of ferry suspension on Manikganj routes
Another day of ferry suspension on Manikganj routes
12 hours ago | National
Petrol pumps in Northern region shut down indefinitely in protest of eviction
Petrol pumps in Northern region shut down indefinitely in protest of eviction
8 hours ago | National
Bangladeshi women entrepreneurs to lead UK trade mission
Bangladeshi women entrepreneurs to lead UK trade mission
13 hours ago | Business
Dhaka tops worst air quality list globally
Dhaka tops worst air quality list globally
12 hours ago | City
Firsttrip launches B2C with buy one, get one free offer
Firsttrip launches B2C with buy one, get one free offer
4 hours ago | Corporate Corner
Young voters are the game changer
Young voters are the game changer
11 hours ago | Special
Smartphone vision syndrome: Preventing and treating eye discomfort
Smartphone vision syndrome: Preventing and treating eye discomfort
11 hours ago | Lifestyle
Sabina Yasmin returns home
Sabina Yasmin returns home
12 hours ago | Entertainment
EC to use software for smart NID card distribution
EC to use software for smart NID card distribution
11 hours ago | National
Target billions of dollars
Target billions of dollars
10 hours ago | Business
Reform Commission proposes 4 provinces, 2 new divisions
Reform Commission proposes 4 provinces, 2 new divisions
4 hours ago | National
Ex-BSEC Chairman Shibli Rubayat-Ul-Islam arrested
Ex-BSEC Chairman Shibli Rubayat-Ul-Islam arrested
13 hours ago | National
Abul Hayat, Dilara Zaman, Emon and Shokh in a TVC
Abul Hayat, Dilara Zaman, Emon and Shokh in a TVC
9 hours ago | Entertainment
‘Gaza is not for sale’: Americans take to streets
‘Gaza is not for sale’: Americans take to streets
9 hours ago | International
Ex-minister Anisul placed on 3-day remand
Ex-minister Anisul placed on 3-day remand
5 hours ago | National
No ties with Israel without creation of Palestinian state: Saudi
No ties with Israel without creation of Palestinian state: Saudi
12 hours ago | International
Barishal strengthens squad with James Neesham for BPL final
Barishal strengthens squad with James Neesham for BPL final
10 hours ago | Sports
Bangladesh keen to enhance trade, economic relations with Algeria
Bangladesh keen to enhance trade, economic relations with Algeria
12 hours ago | National
Washington plane crash: All 67 bodies recovered from Potomac River
Washington plane crash: All 67 bodies recovered from Potomac River
11 hours ago | International
Leader of Ismaili Muslims Aga Khan dies aged 88
Leader of Ismaili Muslims Aga Khan dies aged 88
12 hours ago | International
Protesters storm Dhanmondi 32
Protesters storm Dhanmondi 32
54 minutes ago | City
US cancels funding to UNRWA
US cancels funding to UNRWA
12 hours ago | International