Temporary labour
migrants (TLMs) who work in the European Union (EU) as seasonal workers,
circular migrant workers, posted workers, intra-corporate transferees (ICTs),
young professionals, au pairs, and working holidaymakers all have in common
that their residence in the host Member State lasts for only a short period of
time. Their legal status prevents permanent settlement, leading to a legal and
policy framework that assumes little or no need for integration. As a result,
these migrants often face discrimination and social exclusion.
This article examines
the peculiar legal position of TLMs in the EU, focusing on the interplay
between integration and time. Following a ‘law in context’ approach, it
outlines different categories of temporary migrants, critiques the use of time
to limit the scope of integration, and challenges the narrative that
integration is solely the responsibility of longterm immigrants. The article
advocates disconnecting integration from residence time and calls for a
reconceptualization of integration as a set of rights. In this perspective, it
introduces the concept of ‘integration rights’, encompassing fundamental
employment rights as well as the rights of residence, free choice of
employment, intra-EU mobility, family reunification, access to welfare
benefits, and political participation.