Since the late 1950s, a common feature of the advanced capitalist countries of Europe has been the growth of a large immigrant worker population. In Britain and Germany they account for over 6 per cent of the active population, and 14 per cent of manual workers; in Belgium, 10 per cent of the active population, and 25 per cent of industrial labour; in France, 11 per sent of the active population, and 25 per cent of industrial labour; and in Switzerland, 26 per sent of the active population, and 35 per cent of industrial labour.
Immigrant workers in France on hunger strike for better condinions Immigrant workers play a crucial role in modern capitalist production. During the period of post-war economic expansion they were brought into Western Europe to meet the serious shortage of labour. Recruited from the Third World' and southern Europe, they came as a result of the initiatives of governments and individual employers, such as London Transpart for example, who opened special recruiting offices in the West Indies.
These workers filled the unskilled and semi-skilled jobs left by indigenous workers because of low wages, bad conditions or insecurity during this period of full employment. Such jobs were to be found mainly in the textile industry, transport, and the health service. Employment One of the 'catile-boats" uned for ferrying Arab Jendsh workers from Marseilles to service /raeli ospitalism. On the return jowney they pick up Greek, Zealien and Turkish workers for use in Northern Etrope, The shipe for over a week, prosiding the own food and shetter.
Red Weekly 1 June 1973 Page 4