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Journal article

The case of guestworkers: exploitation, citizenship and economic rights

Date

2000

Authors

Daniel Attas

Abstract

Working from a ``capitalist'''' theory of exploitation, based on a neo-classical account of economic value, I argue that guest workers are exploited. It may be objected, however, that since they are not citizens, any inequality that stems from their status as non-citizens is morally unobjectionable. Although host countries are under no moral obligation to admit guest workers as citizens, thereare independent reasons that call for the extension of economicrights – the freedom of occupation in particular – to guestworkers. Since the cause of unequal exchange rests in the factthat guest workers are deprived of these rights, rather than in their exclusion from citizenship per se, I concludethat they are exploited even if their exclusion from citizenshipmay be justified.

Journal title

Res Publica

Volume

6

Issue

1

Page numbers

73-92

Publisher

Kluwer Academic Publishers

Place published

Netherlands

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Economic sectors

Agriculture and horticulture workers, Occupations in services - Domestic work, Sales and service occupations - general, Trades, transport and equipment operators and related occupations - general, Natural resources, agriculture and related production occupations - general, Labourers in food, beverage and associated products processing, Dancers, and Other

Content types

Policy analysis

Target groups

Policymakers, Researchers, Unions, and NGOs/community groups/solidarity networks

Regulation domains

Right to change employer, Right to choose place of residence, Labour standards, Health and safety at work, Health care & social services, Access to permanent status, Family reunification, Right to liberty, and Right to dignity

Spheres of activity

Law and Philosophy

Languages

English