BERLIN, Jan. 22 (Xinhua) -- The German government intends to inform potential immigrants already in their country of origin, Annette Widmann-Mauz, federal commissioner for migration, refugees and integration, announced on Wednesday.

The German cabinet has approved parts of the "National Action Plan for Integration," which aims to make Germany an attractive destination for international skilled workers.

"We want to set the course for integration even before immigration," said Widmann-Mauz, adding that the government wants to promote "safe, orderly and regular migration" to Germany.

Measures include language and information services and are designed to boost the recruitment of skilled workers as well as to prepare immigrants for living in Germany. The information service should also help overcome false expectations of life in Germany.

Federal Health Minister Jens Spahn (CDU) has recently stressed that clear criteria for the immigration of foreign specialists were needed, but added that Germany welcomed skilled workers who were "motivated, well qualified and willing to live by our values."

A new piece of legislation passed at the end of last year will make it easier for skilled workers from non-European countries to obtain permanent residence status in Germany. The law, scheduled to come into effect in March, aims to address the issue of vacancies on the German labor market.

A recent survey conducted by the Association of German Chambers of Commerce and Industry (DIHK) found that 56 percent of German companies regarded the lack of specialists as the greatest business risk.

In December, Chancellor Angela Merkel of Germany's Christian Democratic Union (CDU) party said that there was great competition for qualified specialists worldwide and noted that around 250,000 registered vacancies could be filled by foreign tradesmen and tradeswomen.

"It is urgently required that we have such a law," Merkel said. "In any case, the really important thing is that we are perceived by third countries as a country that is open to the world and interested," she added. Enditem

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