The information and communications tech-nology sector holds more promise for the future than any other industry. In Germany, as in all the major industrial countries, there is a serious shortage of IT-specialists. The Federal Republic of
Germany aims to play an active role in the international competition for the world’s top IT-specialists.

On March 13, 2000, the German government and the Infor-mation and Communications-Industry agreed on a IT-specia-lists Temporary Relief Program? The core elements of this pro-gram are to grant top foreign IT-specialists access to the job market in Germany, while at the same time launching a major vocational and continuing education initiative for German em-ployees and young people. To make it easier for IT-specialists from non-EU-countries to start work in Germany, the German government has prepared legal changes which are due to go into effect in early August, 2000.

This will benefit everyone: the German economy can quickly satisfy its short-term personnel needs in the IT sector. Foreign employees can find challenging, well-paid jobs – and have the experience of living in another lovely country and getting to know its vibrant culture. And the German population as a whole benefits too, because this initiative will create new jobs and train more IT-specialists here in Germany.

In this bilingual brochure, German companies and foreign job applicants will find a checklist to help them complete all the required formalities as easily and "painlessly" as possible.

Get informed, come on over and welcome to Germany!

Walter Riester
Federal Minister of Labor and Social Affairs