One year ago, on 18 June 2024, the Welcome Center Chemnitz was opened in the Citizens' Office as a central contact and service point for skilled workers, returnees, graduates and newcomers from Germany and abroad. It offers help with arriving, living and working in Chemnitz and advises regional companies on the integration of international employees. Today, the team can look back on a positive year.
In this first year, the main focus was on expanding the wide range of counselling services and raising awareness through targeted networking and marketing. This included a national advertising campaign. In addition, the film "Welcome to Chemnitz" was produced to attract skilled workers from Germany and abroad to Chemnitz as an attractive place to live and work.
The Welcome Centre has now established itself as the first port of call for new arrivals in the city. So far, 300 counselling sessions have taken place - both with skilled workers and employees from 43 countries and directly with (future) employers. And demand is steadily increasing. International academic specialists from the fields of technology, business, natural sciences, medicine and IT sought the support of the counsellors particularly frequently.
The consultations focused on questions about the labour market and career prospects in Chemnitz, e.g. training and further education opportunities, job portals and suitable job offers. Information on professional recognition, language courses and leisure and contact opportunities via associations and intercultural initiatives are also particularly in demand. The personal support provided by the Welcome Center ranges from practical tips to referrals to relevant specialist agencies, cooperation partners and programmes in Chemnitz. It thus fulfils a guiding function to help immigrants arrive, orientate themselves and stay.
Project coordinator Maria Alexander: "The positive feedback shows how important it is to have a low-threshold contact point and holistic support right from the start. Our counselling bundles all important information on professional and social integration from a single source and accompanies the first steps of settling in."
Companies are also supported in the recruitment and integration of international employees and their families. The staff at the Welcome Centre assist with the search for accommodation and relocation, coordinate the first steps and visits to the authorities and help with childcare and school registration. They also work closely with other departments such as the Immigration Office, the Registration Office and the Youth Welfare Office.
The services offered by the Welcome Center are supplemented by other specialist advice centres of the IQ Network Saxony, such as the recognition advice on foreign qualifications provided by the IBAS advice centre or the Immigration Information Centre, which advises companies on the immigration and employment of international specialists and workers.
In view of the growing demand, the Welcome Centre is planning to further expand its services - both digitally and on site. Plans include information and networking events for companies and international skilled workers as well as increased public relations work. The aim remains to offer people from Germany and abroad prospects in Chemnitz - and to provide companies with long-term support in recruiting skilled labour.
Contact:
Welcome Centre Chemnitz
Community Centre Am Wall, Düsseldorfer Platz 1
Entrance Richard-Möbius-Straße (1st floor)
Telephone: 0371 488-3390
E-mail: welcome-center(at)stadt-chemnitz.de
www.chemnitz.de/welcomecenter
Consultation hours: Mondays and Tuesdays from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m., Thursdays from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. and by appointment
This measure is co-financed with tax revenue on the basis of the budget approved by the Saxon state parliament.