Circular Migration of Live-ins in Germany — Reinforcing the Segmentation of the Labor Market ?
European Policy Analysis - Volume 2 , Number 2 - Winter 2016
Circular Migration of Live-ins in Germany — Reinforcing the Segmentation of the Labor Market ?
Marlene Neumann A and Uwe Hunger B
In past years , circular migration has been used as a theoretical idea in political discussions , and also on the standard of the European Union . Within these discussions , the types of circular mobility already in existence within the EU are often ignored . This article explores the circularity of so-called live-ins in Germany : those who stay with the people they take care of and are usually migrant workers . The focus is on how the circularity is organized and what implications it has for the migrants . What are the practical consequences of the legal framework for live-ins ? How does this subsector relate to the elderly care sector in Germany ?
This article is built on the results of a two-year study with more than 35 interviews conducted in the elderly care sector showing that the employment of live-ins takes place in a semi-legal sphere , which marginalizes the employees and limits their labor rights . The results further suggest that the circularity fosters a segmentation of the labor market because the limited time of the stays prevents live-ins from becoming accustomed and integrating into local hierarchies , which constitutes a necessary step toward claiming their full rights . The study shows how this type of employment is built on circularity with great implications for the actual living and working situations . On the political level , however , the term circular migration is not used in this case , which is why it is important to engage in a discussion on consequences of live-in arrangements in the European Union , regulations favoring this type of employment and how labor rights can be assured .
On the other hand , the study has also indicated that while migration plays hardly any role in the elderly care sector , the whole subsector of live-ins would not exist without migration . The legal framework — together with societal changes and structures such as emancipation , demographic change and the elderly care sector itself with its inherent financial shortage — lead to a gap that is covered by live-in arrangements .
Keywords : Circular Migration , Care Sector Germany , Live-ins
A
Welcome Center Heilbronn-Franken , Germany
B
Institute for Political Science , University of Muenster , Germany doi : 10.18278 / epa . 2.2.9
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