Class War, Labour and Migration: The Case of Migrant Workers in Slovenia

ABSTRACT
The paper presents how neoliberalism, globalization and the post-modernization of production have worsened the structural position of workers. Capital’s counterattack against labour has succeeded in re-establishing a reserve army of workers. It has created submissive and obedient workers by using the fear of unemployment. Being exploited has become a privilege, because there is always a crowd of people waiting to take such jobs. Immigrant workers are in the worst situation. The authors present an analysis of the situation of this group of workers in Slovenia. Their victimization has been (additionally) influenced by the state’s legislation and the passivity of control mechanisms. These modern slaves are not bound to work by chains, but by socio-economic hardship and structural violence.
KEY WORDS: labour, capitalism, migration, immigrant workers, Slovenia

SUMMARY
CLASS WAR, WORK AND MIGRATION: THE CASE OF MIGRANT WORKERS IN SLOVENIA
Zoran KANDUČ, Aleš BUČAR RUČMAN 

The paper presents how neoliberalism, globalization and the post-modernization of production have deteriorated the structural position of workers. Capital’s counterattack against labour has managed to re-establish a reserve army of workers. Fear of unemployment creates submissive and obedient wor­kers. Being exploited has become a privilege, because there is always a crowd of people waiting to take such jobs. Immigrant workers are in the worst situation. The authors attempt to answer the following questions: What is the position of migrant workers (in Slovenia) in capitalist production? What are the pressures against migrant workers and what are their causes? What is the role of the post-Fordist state and its apparatuses in this process? The research comprises semi-structured interviews with 25 interviewees (migrant workers, organizations and support groups, employers etc.). The results indicate that migrant workers count on the improvement of their and their families’ social position. In conditions where they realise they can be easily substituted by others, they believe in promises and accept violations of basic labour rights. Their victimization has been (additionally) influenced by state legislation and the passive role of control mechanisms. These modern slaves are not bound to work by chains, but by socio-economic hardship and structural violence.