Discrimination against foreigners by labour market controls? * Case studies - challanges - arrangement options

Abstract

"What do external controls in the German labour market focus on? In the tradition of empirical administration research, we use the example of the labour market control unit in Berlin that focuses on the construction sector (Außendienstprüfgruppe Bau) to investigate what aims are pursued by external labour market controls, where there is scope for decision-making and where this is used. While the legal task of control units demands the detection of various offences, the authors identify as a political aim a priority for the detection of illegal employment of foreign nationals and as an informal aim of control officers the pursuit of employers. Whilst the political aim mainly affects the selection of the construction sites, the informal aim has some influence on the utilisation of scope in decision-making in later stages of work. From the selection practices it becomes clear that workers who are classed as 'foreign' because of looks or language are checked more frequently than people who appear 'German'. The analysis shows that this can be explained more by creaming routines orientated towards success than by prejudice. Finally, the authors reflect whether such selection routines can be considered discriminating in an immigration society. They present for discussion some considerations for avoiding routines in labour market controls that are determined by ethnic factors." (Author's abstract, IAB-Doku) ((en))

Cite article

Cyrus, N. & Vogel, D. (2002): Ausländerdiskriminierung durch Außenkontrollen im Arbeitsmarkt? Fallstudienbefunde - Herausforderungen - Gestaltungsoptionen. In: Mitteilungen aus der Arbeitsmarkt- und Berufsforschung, Vol. 35, No. 2, p. 254-270.