The Largest German Employer Seeks Permanent Workers from Croatia

Frankfurt Airport plans to organize the recruitment of labor from Southeast European countries, including Croatia, it was announced on Wednesday in Frankfurt.

“We want to directly address potential workers in Croatia, Bulgaria, and Greece to accept some of the jobs at our airport,” said Michael Mueller, the director of human resources at Fraport, the company that manages one of the largest airports in Europe and is, with 81,000 employees, the largest employer in Germany stationed at a single location.

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Mueller announced to the dpa agency that Fraport wants to start informational gatherings in hotels in the region this month. Workers with “minimal knowledge” of English or German will be accepted.

In this way, they aim to fill “at least five percent” of the current labor shortage, which means about a hundred job positions. This number is expected to significantly increase next year.

Mueller emphasized that they are not only looking for highly qualified professionals but also labor needed for simpler jobs such as loading and unloading luggage. Starting salaries in this sector range between 25,000 and 30,000 euros gross per year.

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Mueller pointed out that he is aware that such salaries in the Frankfurt region, which is known as one of the most developed and expensive regions in Germany, especially regarding housing, are not sufficient. He announced that for workers from Southeast Europe, cheaper accommodation will be organized in guesthouses nearby, and in the long term, he announced the construction of affordable apartments near the airport.

“These apartments should not cost more than 300 to 350 euros per month,” said the director of human resources at Fraport.

He emphasized that the goal of attracting labor from Southeast Europe is not short-term employment but “permanent binding.”

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“Our goal is not to train and specialize workers so that they then leave, say, for Greece,” concluded Mueller, who also announced “integrative” projects such as the possibility of family reunification.

Unions at Frankfurt Airport have given the green light for the recruitment of workers from Southeast Europe, which would “reduce the pressure” on currently employed workers.