Work migration between borders

The cooperation project analyses conditions of work migration in the Euregio region of Rhine-Waal. The COVID-19 pandemic revealed to which extent work migrants’ labor enables and maintains central fields of economy and society. In contrast to this, their work and life conditions are frequently highly precarious. This project researches conditions of work migration on both sides of the border in the Euregio region of Rhine-Waal in Germany and The Netherlands in which many work migrants from East-European countries in the European Union live and work. The research is done in cooperation with the project "Migranten in de frontlinie“, project leader Prof. Dr. Tesseltje de Lange, Radboud University, Nijmegen, the Netherlands.* A cross border mobility has emerged in this region due to which work and life world are organized transnationally – particularly for work migrants. In this research, we study legal regulations and the media discourse on work migration. Moreover, we analyze measures taken to deal with the pandemic and the support of work migrants in the spheres of politics, economy and civil society. Based on this, recommendations will be developed for the municipalities and the labor market to improve conditions for work migrants. Built on the findings of this project, experiences of work migrants will be analyzed in a further research project.