Guest Workers

Shu-Ju Ada Cheng

Guest workers are laborers who migrate to other countries for work based on labor importation policies. The durations of their stays are usually limited and temporary. They are usually confined to certain occupations. Whether they are allowed to apply for citizenship depends on the labor and immigration policies of the labor-receiving countries. In contrast, immigrants are people who migrate to other countries for permanent stays. They can immigrate for marriage, employment, or family reunification. Immigrant laborers are workers who migrate to other countries for work and are able to secure permanent residency and eventually citizenship. Whereas guest workers have been a contentious issue for Western Europe for decades, such as African workers in France and Turkish workers in Germany, the debates concerning guest worker programs have gained increasing momentum in the United States during recent years. This entry examines the current U.S. debate before reviewing the larger history of guest ...

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