Managing Diverse Policy Contexts: The Welfare State as Repertoire of Policy Logics in German and French Labour Migration Governance

Interviewees widely recognize the German welfare system as a relevant reference point for assessing and anticipating the economic and social inclusion capacities of a migrant worker before admission...Most experts directly refer to the guest-worker heritage whencontextualising current labour migration policies. They speak of ‘lessons learned’ with policies now –much more than back in the guest-worker era –anticipating pathways of inclusion and settlement. Policies seemingly aim to select candidates who seem (or have proven) likely to succeed as longer-term employees, welfare contributors, and social citizens in the Bismarckian fashion...The latest MIPEX illustrates significant trade-offs between the Bismarckian social integration ‘automatism’ via the employment route and general openness to migration,confirming the findings above. However, initial access to employment and eligibility conditions for long-term residence are only halfway favourable in Germany, and lofty economic requirements apply to secure residence. Nevertheless, Germany also ranks among the most favourable rights regimes when it comes to equal access to welfare benefits and the labour market, equal working conditions and a highly secure resident status for a carefully selected group of high-skilled workers. These rights provide a carefully selected group of migrant workers who (are expected to) contribute successfully in economic and labour market terms with a comparatively advantageous status. In Germany, the logics of the Bismarckian welfare state work as a hub for this discrimination of wanted and unwanted migrant workers...
Read more