Far from a Burden: EU Migrants as Pioneers of a European Social Protection System from Below

Abstract

At a time when the belief in a welfare crisis is being connected to a so-called "migration crisis", in particular in the United Kingdom, it is important to look at the lived experiences of mobile EU citizens and the influence of transnational social protection practices. The article introduces the concept of a "migration-welfare corridor"as opposed to the widespread welfare magnet hypothesistaking into consideration the role of welfare systems in origin and destination countries at different stages of a migrant's life cycle, the changing nature of the welfare habitus as well as migrants' attitudes towards what can be defined as welfare chauvinism. Looking specifically at the case of Spanish and Polish migrants in the UK who have reacted to this protracted environment of deterrence, particularly in respect to their welfare rights, this paper discusses several dimensions that should be taken into consideration when analyzing transnational social protection practices from below.

“East” in Europe—Health Dimension through the Lens of the UK Daily Mail and Statistical Facts

“…On the other hand, it was pointed out that British health care workers are not border guards and are not entitled to ask about the patient’s ID document. After the Brexit referendum, however, such a regulation (after the Brexit referendum, EU citizens who wish to obtain permanent residence must show Comprehensive Sickness Insurance (CSI) [ 32 ]) began to be introduced in the health service from 2017. It was described in the Daily Mail as a story of discrimination, using the example of a young woman, a native British woman with a Polish husband’s surname (A:15).…”

“…In the UK, in addition to the general feelings of hostility often expressed towards foreigners coming in search of work, there was a growing aversion to the rapidly growing group of migrants from Central and Eastern Europe, including apparently the rapidly growing number of Poles [ 4 , 22 , 31 , 32 , 33 ]. The health concerns frequently raised initially included the supposed growing threat of transmitting infectious diseases, especially tuberculosis.…”

Welfare and social protection: What is the link with secondary migration? Evidence from the 2014‐crisis hit Italian region of Lombardy

“…The transnational structure of networks providing bonding social capital entails a more complex relationship with secondary mobility. Transnational networks may potentially offer support in the country of origin, destination and in third countries where members are settled, and also before, during and after migration (Godin, 2020).…”

“…The focus on the destination countries' national welfare systems as the predominant social protection provider to migrants has repeatedly missed the role of other forms of protection (Godin, 2020) provided from faith-based or nongovernmental organisations (NGOs) and informal social networks. The latter cannot be overlooked in a comprehensive reflection about the relationship between social protection and secondary migration being highly relevant to migrants and closely intertwined with formal welfare protection (Sabates-Wheeler & Waite, 2003;Serra-Mingot & Mazzucato, 2017).…”

Intra-EU Mobility: The Employment and Welfare Experience of Temporary EU Workers in the United Kingdom

“…The pathways they undertake influence EU workers' access to social rights as precarious temporary EU workers have limited or no access to the host country welfare system (Alberti 2016;Heindlmaier, Blauberger 2017;Marques et al 2021). EU migrants are often unaware of their social rights and would rather seek solutions privately or in their home country than try to access the host country's welfare system (Ehata, Seeleib Kaiser 2017;Godin 2020). Temporariness, spatial segregation, and the lack of a sense of belonging experienced by temporary migrant workers disrupts their integration process in the host country (Çaro et al 2015).…”