UniGR-Center for Border Studies themed journal: Cross-border workers in Luxembourg and Switzerland

In spite of their small size Luxembourg and Switzerland record very high levels of demand for labour and offer job opportunities especially for cross-border workers. The situation in the main employment locations (Luxembourg, Basel, Genf) – but not in Ticino – is the subject of this special issue, in which 19 authors offer contributions that take different perspectives. Taking into account the key elements of the context and methodological considerations, geographers, economists, sociologists and political scientists examine above all the job market, the experience of crossing the border on a daily basis and society's perceptions of cross-border workers. Finally the multidisciplinary approach is summarised by the editors and the common challenges facing Luxembourg and Switzerland are reviewed.

Interview with the editors

UniGR-CBS: Ms Pigeron-Piroth and Mr Wille, it is useful to compare the situation of cross-border workers in Luxembourg with those in Switzerland. How did the cooperation with the Swiss researchers come about?

Yes, Switzerland and Luxembourg are the big hotspots for cross-border working in Europe. In both countries, researchers are taking an interest in the cross-border job market, but as yet there have been no structured exchanges. This is why we invited researchers from Switzerland to a conference in Luxembourg in 2017, which then created a need to intensify scientific exchanges. After that we all met in Basel in 2018 and we founded a German-French-Swiss research group, "LABOR SwissLux-Labour Across Borders" at that meeting. The group consists of more than ten researchers who are currently working together on a book to be published by Editions Harmattan.

UniGR-CBS: What common features and what differences have you found between the situations in Luxembourg and Switzerland? What are the biggest challenges?

In both Switzerland and Luxembourg, we have seen a strong increase in numbers of cross-border workers over the last few years, increased by the economic difficulties of some of the regions where these cross-border workers live, but we also note the great variety and diversification of the profiles of cross-border workers. Concerning the differences, it is in terms of perceptions of cross-border workers that they make themselves felt the most. Cross-border workers in Switzerland – especially in the cantons of Geneva and Ticino – are held responsible for many different ills: e.g. unemployment and wage dumping, whereas in Basel and in Luxembourg, perceptions are more benevolent. Several challenges common to both areas can be identified, whether environmental (e.g. congestion and pollution due to high levels of commuting), economic (e.g. future qualifications requirements) or demographic (e.g. aging population) and social (e.g. cohesion, integration, rise in populism).

UniGR-CBS: As far as Switzerland is concerned, what are the differences between the cantons?

The profiles of cross-border workers vary considerably from one canton to another depending on the needs and the activities that are developed there. Manufacturing industry, especially watchmaking and pharmaceuticals, attracts high numbers of cross-border workers in Neuchâtel, Jura and et Basel. In Ticino, cross-border workers are very present in trade and the building industry. In metropolitan cantons like Basel and Geneva, there are many cross-border workers in specialist scientific and technical activities and healthcare, but also in the temporary work sector.

UniGR-CBS: Last question: Why have you become so fascinated by this subject?

It is true that cross-border workers are a fascinating research subject. Because in practice they belong to two countries − as citizens of their country of residence and as workers in the country of employment - they need an integrative perspective, whereas as often borders are still seen via a national approach. Furthermore, we can learn a lot from cross-border workers: as agents of cross-border living environments – not only in the professional domain, but also their leisure activities – they have the experience necessary to manage border effects in a productive way.

Contents

• Préface/Vorwort: Heinz Bierbaum, Jeanne Ruffing (Observatoire Interrégional du Marché de l’Emploi de la Grande Région)
• Le travail frontalier dans une optique comparative : Contextes et enjeux, Isabelle Pigeron-Piroth, Christian Wille (Université du Luxembourg)
• Le travail frontalier au Luxembourg : Eléments de contexte et de portrait statistique, Isabelle Pigeron-Piroth (Université du Luxembourg)
• Les Lorrains actifs à l’étranger : Une analyse cartographique au niveau communal, Isabelle Pigeron-Piroth, Malte Helfer (Université du Luxembourg)
• Les impacts économiques et territoriaux du travail frontalier sur les territoires de résidence : L’exemple du bassin de Longwy, Rachid Belkacem (Université de Lorraine), Isabelle Pigeron-Piroth (Université du Luxembourg)
• Déchiffrer le phénomène des travailleurs transfrontaliers en Suisse, Cédric Duchêne-Lacroix (Université de Bâle), Christian Wille, Isabelle Pigeron-Piroth (Université du Luxembourg)
• Travail frontalier et maux du marché du travail : Le cas suisse, Sylvain Weber (Université de Neuchâtel), José V. Ramirez, Giovanni Ferro Luzzi (HES-SO Genève)
• Quelles attitudes et satisfaction envers les moyens de transport ? Le cas des frontaliers travaillant au Luxembourg, Philippe Gerber (Luxembourg Institute of Socio-Economic Research), Marius Thériault (Université Laval), Samuel Carpentier-Postel (Aix Marseille Université), Christophe Enaux (Université de Strasbourg)
• Travailler et vivre dans les confins. Modes d’aménagement de la vie quotidienne des frontaliers travaillant dans le « Grand Genève », Claudio Bolzman, Nasser Tafferant (Haute école de travail social Genève)
• Le travail frontalier à travers quelques illustrations photographiques, Nasser Tafferant (Haute école de travail social Genève)
• Quelle peut être la participation sociale des travailleurs transfrontaliers ? Réflexions sur la territorialité, la marginalité et le bien commun en contexte frontalier, Cédric Duchêne-Lacroix (Université de Bâle)
• Wie werden Grenzgänger von institutionellen Akteuren in der Region Basel wahrgenommen?, Nadja Lützel (Universität Basel)
• Les frontaliers perçus par les acteurs institutionnels dans le canton du Tessin, Paola Solcà (Haute école spécialisée de la Suisse italienne)
• La perception citoyenne des frontaliers dans le canton du Tessin, Oscar Mazzoleni, Andrea Pilotti (Université de Lausanne)
• Le travail frontalier au Luxembourg et en Suisse : Similitudes, différences et défis communs, Isabelle Pigeron-Piroth, Christian Wille (Université du Luxembourg)

Bibliographical references and download

Pigeron-Piroth, Isabelle / Wille, Christian (2019) (Hg.): Les travailleurs frontaliers au Luxembourg et en Suisse : Emploi, Quotidien et Perceptions. UniGR-CBS Borders in Perspective – Cahier thématique Vol. 2. (166 Seiten)

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