Named the Orderly Return Law, the new rules will make it easier for the German government to deport failed asylum seekers but does improve rights for those already working in the nation. According to Interior Ministry data, almost half of the planned 188,000 deportations have failed since 2015.
Horst Seehofer, Interior Minister and member of the Christian Social Union, has insisted that the new rules were necessary to make sure deportations did take place.
Speaking in the German Parliament, Mr Seehofer said: “This is a turning point in our migration policy, this migration package creates a set of rules that respects humanity and order.”
His positivity was contrasted by many on the far-left who argued that the new rules were “unconstitutional” and against the rights of the asylum-seekers.
Fillip Polat, leader of the Greens, said it was a “dark day for democracy”, while Ulla Jelske from Die Linke said it was a “catalogue of atrocities”.
But the new law is also set to improve the labour market for skilled migrants. while those who are yet to get asylum status will be able to stay in the country for the time being as long as they have a job and can speak German.
Previous rules where employers must prove that there was no German or EU citizen available to do the job before employing a migrant have been scrapped.
After a decade of economic growth unemployment figures are at their lowest since reunification in 1990, but two-thirds of businesses are complaining about a lack of skilled workers for specialist jobs. Meanwhile, some 400,000 asylum seekers were pursuing training or were already in work last year.
Former German Social Democrat (SPD) leader Sigmar Gabriel showed his support for the new policies.
Writing a column piece, the former leader wrote: “Mette Frederiksen has shown that the Socialists can win elections if they stand for a clear policy. German comrades are far from it.”
His support comes after his party have fallen in the polls. Their vote collapsed in the EU elections including losing ground in areas it had previously held for 73 years.
The returns law passed by 372 votes to 159, with the labour access legislation passing by 369 to 257 votes, a majority of 112.