Welcome to Münster in Westphalia
The job market situation in Münster is comparatively good. By the end of 2008, the number of unemployed individuals had decreased to under 8,500, compared to a total of almost 13,000 individuals who were registered as unemployed in 2005. In December 2008, the unemployment rate was precisely 6.0 per cent, well below the average figure for the Federal State of North Rhine-Westphalia.
It can be difficult for school-leavers and students to embark on an apprenticeship or degree course or to enter professional life by their chosen routes. On the one hand, deciding which of the many trades, degree courses or professional fields to choose often proves problematic. On the other, it is not always easy to make plans reality, i.e. to get one of the coveted apprenticeships or study places. The careers advisors at the Federal Employment Agency support those in need of advice as regards the transitions from school to training and study to professional life. It is possible to arrange free consultations via telephone, e-mail or in person during one of the information events held in Münster's schools.
Careers advice from the Münster Federal Employment Agency
Martin-Luther-King-Weg 22
Tel. 0 18 01 / 55 51 11 (land line 3.9 euro cents/min; different rates apply for calls from mobile phones)
E-mail Muenster.U25-SGBIII@arbeitsagentur.de or Muenster.Hochschulteam@arbeitsagentur.de
www.arbeitsagentur.de/muenster
The School and Further Education Office, which focuses on "Übergangsmanagement Schule – Beruf” (“Transition Management: School and Career”), also advises individuals on educational career choices and orientation.
Stabstelle Übergangsmanagement Schule - Beruf (Transition Management: School and Career, team office)
Andrea Kalk, Klemensstraße 10
Tel. 02 51 / 4 92-40 65
E-mail: Kalk@stadt-muenster.de
www.muenster.de/stadt/schulamt/schule-beruf.html
Those from non-EU countries require a work permit in order to be able to work in Germany. Questions regarding residence and work permits are clarified via a combined procedure (one-stop-government) in accordance with Federal immigration law. The city’s Foreigners’ Registration Office is the first port of call for job-seeking foreigners. Newly arrived citizens from non-EU countries can apply for their residence permits here. The authorities will subsequently decide whether individuals are eligible to work and record this eligibility in the residence permits accordingly.
Amt für Ausländerangelegenheiten (Foreigners’ Registration Office), Ludgeriplatz 4 (Südstraße entrance)
Monday to Friday from 8 am to 12 pm, plus Thursday afternoons from 3 pm to 6 pm
Tel. 02 51 / 4 92-36 36 or -36 37
E-mail: auslaenderamt@stadt-muenster.de
www.muenster.de/stadt/auslaenderangelegenheiten/en/employment.html
Special regulations apply in the case of citizens from the new EU member states of Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Hungary, the Czech Republic, the Republic of Slovakia, Slovenia, Bulgaria and Romania. Although they do not require a residence permit in accordance with the Residence Act, they are only able to take up employment in Germany in the event that they are issued a work permit by the Federal Employment Agency.
Agentur für Arbeit Münster (Münster Federal Employment Agency), Martin-Luther-King-Weg 22
Monday from 7:30 am - 3 pm; Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday from 7:30 am – 12:30 pm; Thursday from 7:30 am – 6 pm
Tel. 0 18 01 55 51 11 (land line: 3.9 euro cents/min; different rates apply for calls from mobile phones)
www.arbeitsagentur.de/muenster
Citizens from these states enjoy freedom of movement in their capacity as employees and self-employed individuals. They do not require a special work permit from the Foreigners’ Registration Office or the Federal Employment Agency.
Those wishing to work in Germany legally (and be liable to pay tax and receive social security benefits) require a tax card.
It is necessary to check the following information for accuracy before giving the tax card to an employer: date of birth, religious confession, number of child allowances and tax category. If no tax card is required, it should be returned to the issuing authority.
Foreign employees are issued with a tax card if they:
The tax card is issued by the local authorities of the district in which the employee was registered as having his or her principal place of residence on 20th September of the previous year. Employees who moved to Germany after 20th September of the previous year will receive their tax cards from the district in which they first registered their principle place of residence after this set date.
All branches of the Citizens’ Affairs Office issue employees with a tax card free of charge. It can be applied for in writing, by telephone or online via the internet.
Amt für Bürgerangelegenheiten – Bürgerbüro Mitte (Citizens’ Affairs Office - Central Office), Stadthaus 1, Klemensstraße 10
Tel. 02 51 / 4 92-33 33
E-mail buergerbuero-mitte@stadt-muenster.de
as well as all other district administration offices and district citizens' advice offices (see chapter VI.1.)
Information:
www.muenster.de/stadt/buergeramt/tax_card.html
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