Berlin - Germany's coalition government has agreed sweeping immigration proposals that will allow thousands of workers into the country, writes Derek Scally.
Following three months of bitter dispute, agreement came yesterday after the junior coalition partners, the Greens, secured several key concessions.
These include protection from deportation for those persecuted on the basis of their gender or persecuted by non-government groups.
The Bill, which simplifies Germany's notoriously complicated immigration procedures, should pass unhindered through the lower house on Thursday.
However in the Bunderat, the upper house representing the federal states, the government lacks a majority and could be blocked by conservatives who want tighter immigration controls.
