Labour migrants and the retirement–return nexus

Author(s) : Claudio Bolzman

Source : https://arodes.hes-so.ch/record/10057

“This chapter explores the question of return for labour immigrants confronted with retirement. It studies the decisions and practices of older immigrants from Southern Europe (Italy, Spain, Portugal) living in Switzerland with respect to their country of origin and proposes a typology that takes into account, in particular, issues of return combined with transnational geographical mobility practices. The typology allows the consideration of at least four options for near-retirement or retired migrants: transnational return, settlement return, transnational geographical mobility and settlement in the country of immigration. Empirical evidence shows that most retired migrants practice transnational geographical mobility between their country of residence and their country of origin. However, the relationship between these four options is complex and cannot be reduced to binary combinations that would give rise to a limited number of possibilities. Qualitative interviews show the existence of more open alternatives that deserve further exploration.”