299. Foreign workers (men and women) who were recruited by the Federal Republic of Germany in the 1950s and 1960s were called …

Answer options

1. Undeclared workers (male/female).
2. Guest workers (male/female).
3. Temporary agency workers (male/female).
4. Shift workers (male/female).

Explanation

“Guest workers” refers to foreign laborers recruited under bilateral recruitment agreements concluded by the Federal Republic with, inter alia, Italy (1955), Spain and Greece (1960), Turkey (1961), and Morocco (1963); recruitment was halted in 1973. Their legal status derived chiefly from labor and residence law rather than civic participation rights; constitutionally, however, they were protected by human dignity (Art. 1 GG) and equality (Art. 3 GG) within the social state framework (Art. 20(1) GG). The term must be distinguished from “undeclared work” (Schwarzarbeit), “temporary agency work” (Zeitarbeit), and “shift work” (Schichtarbeit). Subsequent integration and nationality reforms—e.g., the 1999/2000 Nationality Act introducing elements of ius soli—responded to the long-term settlement of many former guest workers and their families.