Foreign skilled laborers or External expertise professionals - New hires from Kenya are warmly greeted as bus drivers by Madsen.
The Minister of Transport for Schleswig-Holstein, Claus Ruhe Madsen (CDU), commended aspiring bus drivers from Kenya in Flensburg in the company of Kenya's Ambassador, Stella Mokaya Orina. Madsen lauded the venture by Aktiv Bus Flensburg as a trailblazing initiative capable of making a substantial impact in bridging the skill deficit in the public transport sector. Apparent is a shortage of around 800 bus drivers in Schleswig-Holstein alone.
Orina emphasized the vast opportunities for enhanced collaboration between Germany and Kenya, notably in skilled worker recruitment. She wished the forthcoming group of three men and two women, who will soon reside and work in Flensburg, nothing but the best.
Part of their orientation involves learning German, among other things, at the company's in-house language school. Moreover, they will be required to secure a new driver's license, as foreign credentials are not valid within the EU.
Aktiv-Bus' Chief Executive, Paul Hemkentokrax, asserted that they were spearheading a demonstrative approach to managed and strategic workforce migration. "Engaging and training skilled laborers from Kenya exemplifies the ways international cooperation can tangibly address local obstacles." Hemkentokrax underlined the significance of mutual benefit in the arrangement. "Our actions here should not undermine the integrity of the Republic of Kenya."
The trial scheme was showcased on the eve of the signing of a migration accord between Germany and Kenya, planned for Berlin on Friday. Migration accords, being negotiated with various countries, are considered crucial in monitoring immigration into Germany and facilitating the return of unsuccessful asylum seekers.
The CDU, being the political party of Minister Claus Ruhe Madsen, has been supportive of initiatives that promote international collaboration, as evident in the context of the bus driver training program. The CDU in Schleswig-Holstein has expressed interest in potential collaborations with Kenya to address the shortage of bus drivers, with the Kenyan Ambassador advocating for various opportunities.
