Interculturality in the public sector is an issue in Saxony that still lacks a sunny glow. The topic is also on the mind of Saxony’s Commissioner for Foreigners, Geert Mackenroth. He therefore invited discussion guests who are familiar with the subject, such as Asli Sevindim, Head of the Integration Department at the NRW Ministry for Children, Families, Refugees and Integration.

While Saxony is still struggling to find the right wording for its integration law, NRW was the first federal state to pass such a law. As a result, the promotion of participation and integration of people with a history of immigration was comprehensively regulated by law. The most modern integration law in Germany sets important standards in integration policy: the optimization of participation opportunities for people with a history of immigration, the strengthening of diversity awareness and the anti-discriminatory attitude of public administration employees as well as the strengthening of social cohesion.

In the discussion process on the Saxon Integration Act, Wirtschaft für ein weltoffenes Sachsen advocated for the intercultural opening of the state administration to be regulated in the law and made the following proposals: A state and local administration that acts as a role model and model employer for gainful migration and promotes interaction with a diverse society among its employees through the acquisition of skills takes cultural diversity in the labor market into account. The state and local administrations are legally reinforcing their desire to increase the proportion of employees with foreign roots. The development of intercultural skills among state administration employees is enshrined in law, for example through a defined number of hours of democratic education for each employee. So much for the will and we are looking forward to the result.