The German parliament on Friday passed a new immigration law aimed at attracting skilled foreign workers to the country. It was approved by 388 votes, with 234 against and 31 abstaining. The governing centre-left SPD, the liberal FDP and the Greens supported the bill, while the conservative bloc of the opposition CDU and its Bavarian CSU sister party and the far-right AfD party voted against. The new German law announced on Thursday, will allow foreign workers to enter the country more easily, provided they meet certain criteria. Applicants must have a job offer, a valid passport and proof of qualifications.

They must also demonstrate language proficiency and pass a health check. The law also gives employers and job-seekers the option of using digital applications, which will speed up the process and make it easier for qualified applicants to move to Germany. The government has also proposed changes to make it easier for foreign graduates of German universities to stay in the country, with the aim of helping to meet the country's shortage of skilled workers. The new law is a major step towards addressing the issue, which has been exacerbated by an ageing population and a growing skills gap. The government has said that the new law will help attract up to 200,000 skilled workers to Germany each year.

The law has been welcomed by the German business community, which has long argued that access to foreign talent is essential to fill the gap in the labour market and boost the economy. However, there are still questions over how the law will be implemented and whether it will be effective in meeting the country's labour needs.

The law includes a points-based system that lowers entry hurdles for applicants according to their professional qualifications, age and language skills. It also gives employers and job-seekers the option of using digital applications to speed up the process and make it easier for qualified applicants to move to Germany. The Association of German Chambers of Commerce and Industry (DIHK) recently reported that more than half of Germany's companies were struggling to fill vacancies due to a lack of skilled workers. The government has said the new law will allow up to 200,000 skilled workers to enter the country each year. The German business community has welcomed the law. However, it remains to be seen how it will be implemented and whether it will be effective in meeting the country's labour needs.