Abstract
During the last decade it has become obvious that the health status of migrant workers is decreasing dramatically despite thorough medical examinations in their home countries. The debate on this problem usually refers to factors such as 'migration strain', 'lack or unwillingness to integrate' or 'cultural distance', which are said to be the causes of the poor health condition. On the contrary, the thesis is presented here that the discriminating working (and living) conditions of migrant workers in the FRG lead to a higher level of illness episodes of this group in comparison to the German workforce. The structure of the migrant workforce is characterized by a certain allocation to unskilled jobs with lower qualification and income levels, higher physical and psychosocial workload and high rates of unemployment, which is considered as an additional health risk. This leads to the conclusion that we will have to deal with increasing health problems and resulting costs unless migrant policies lead to more structural integration. According to this aim, legal rights should be set up for security of residence and equal opportunities on the labour market for migrant workers. These are prerequisite to active participation in work and personal efforts towards integration.
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