(de-news.net) – German Chancellor Friedrich Merz (CDU) has praised the contribution of Turkish migrant workers to Germany’s postwar industrial development, linking the 65th anniversary of the German-Turkish recruitment agreement to current debates over skilled immigration, integration, and social cohesion. He emphasized democratic values, equal opportunities, and the need to combat racism, while rejecting the concept of “remigration.” Signed in 1961, the agreement brought approximately 867,000 Turkish workers to West Germany over the following 12 years, many of whom helped sustain the country’s industrial expansion.

Alongside its economic agenda, the Government addressed migration and social integration during a ceremony marking the 65th anniversary of the German-Turkish labor recruitment agreement. Merz recognized the contribution of Turkish migrant workers to Germany’s industrial development, describing migration from Turkey as an important source of economic, scientific, cultural, and culinary enrichment.

German-Turkish ties frame debate over migration and belonging

The Chancellor also argued that interaction between German and Turkish communities had helped both societies become more cosmopolitan and tolerant. His remarks placed the historical contribution of migrant workers within a contemporary discussion about Germany’s need for skilled labor and the conditions required for successful integration. Merz maintained that people arriving in Germany should respect the country’s democratic principles, including gender equality and its particular responsibility toward Jewish people. In return, those who integrate into society should be able to expect equal opportunities and a sense of belonging. He warned that discrimination against people perceived as foreign threatened the foundations of an open society, recalling the racist attacks in Mölln, Solingen, and Hanau.

The Chancellor also rejected the term ‘remigration,’ arguing that the concept threatened the modern, diverse society that Germany had developed over the preceding decades. He emphasized that the country continued to need skilled workers from abroad, connecting migration policy to both economic requirements and the broader question of social cohesion. Federal Integration Commissioner Natalie Pawlik likewise warned of growing racism and the renewed exclusion of minority communities. Turkish Ambassador Gökhan Turan, meanwhile, described the anniversary commemorations as a demonstration of the enduring relationship between Germany and Turkey.

Recruitment agreement shaped decades of German industrial development

Germany and Turkey signed their labor recruitment agreement on October 30, 1961, initially as a temporary measure to address labor shortages in West Germany’s rapidly expanding economy. The arrangement was originally designed to bring workers to the country for two years, but that time limit was abandoned in 1964, allowing longer-term residence and facilitating family reunification.

According to figures from the North Rhine-Westphalian state chancellery, approximately 867,000 women and men from Turkey arrived in West Germany over the following 12 years. Many worked in the Ruhr region, particularly in coal mines, on production lines, and in factory halls, contributing directly to the industrial expansion that helped shape the country’s postwar economy.

The legacy of the recruitment agreement continues to inform debates about Germany’s industrial history, migration, and integration. Merz’s remarks at the anniversary ceremony highlighted the connection between the contributions of earlier generations of migrant workers and the country’s continuing demand for international talent.