Without them, the world of work would look very different today

Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung: More than six decades later, people are still talking about the “Gastarbeiter” generation. What does this term mean to you personally?

Özge Karabulut: My family are from the “Gastarbeiter” generation. That’s how I know them and why I value and respect them. My grandfather was a farm labourer from Turkey who came to Germany and helped the country continue to grow in the years following the post-war economic miracle. He didn’t want to be alone so the rest of his family, including my mother, joined him later. This is why for me, the word “Gastarbeiter” is about more than just work. It’s also about togetherness, sacrifice and the desire to build a better life for your children and grandchildren. At the same time, I see many of these people as so much more than just “Gastarbeiter”. Their contribution to German society deserves recognition to this day. For us, the children and grandchildren of this generation, Germany has long since become our home.

Long before people from migrant communities became more visible in parliamentary politics, they were already active on works councils and as union representatives. What can this teach us about managing labour migration today?

As harsh as it may sound, back then, many “Gastarbeiter” became union representatives or works council members because they felt their interests weren’t being represented. They fought for equal rights and equal treatment. This obviously wasn’t true for everyone, but it was true for the majority. Many had to endure poor housing, language barriers, discrimination and difficult working conditions. They organised themselves and fought for better conditions. The trade unions were often the first places where they were able to participate in decision-making and have a political voice. 

Without their involvement in trade unions, works councils or workplace representative bodies, the world of work in Germany would look very different today. 

Transnational ways of life have been part of German-Turkish migration history for decades. This includes being able to feel a sense of belonging to more than one country. What does this mean for the current debate on social cohesion? 

The “Gastarbeiter” generation often had to justify feeling connected to two countries. I still experience this to some extent today. Many people still see families like mine primarily through the lens of migration rather than as an integral part of German society. Yet many of us are already second, third or even fourth generation Germans. 

People often forget that you can love Germany, play an active role in society, and take responsibility for the country while still having family and cultural roots in another country. The history of Turkish migration to Germany shows that identity and belonging don’t have to be a question of either/or. 

For the sake of social cohesion this means that we should spend less time discussing where people’s roots lie. Instead of asking, “Where are you really from?”, we should be asking, “How can we work together to shape the society we live in?” 

As the granddaughter of a “Gastarbeiter” family, the answer to this is clear. My grandparents helped build this country, my parents lived and worked here, and am actively involved in the trade union movement and civic activities. Our story is not just part of Turkish history; it is an integral part of German history, too. 

Fast-forward to 2036. It’s the 75th anniversary of the German-Turkish Recruitment Agreement. What visible changes will show that we are a step closer to an inclusive society everyone can participate in?

Looking ahead ten years, I hope that people from migrant communities will no longer be singled out as exceptional success stories, but will simply be seen as an integral part of our society. Don’t get me wrong – I think we need to talk about these issues more often and do a better job of raising awareness about them.

People with Turkish roots or ties to other countries need to be represented at every level of decision-making: in works councils, trade unions, company boards, parliaments, schools and local authorities. Not as exceptions, but because their presence reflects the diversity of our society. 

At the same time, I hope that where someone comes from will gradually cease to matter. I hope that no one will bat an eyelid when someone called Özge becomes a youth and trainee representative, a government minister, a plant manager or a union secretary at IG Metall. This should be nothing out of the ordinary. Just as the story of a Gastarbeiter’s family should be as much a part of Germany’s history as that of any other family.

A genuinely inclusive society doesn’t judge people first and foremost based on where they come from; it sees what they contribute to the community. If, by 2036, we can say that people no longer have to explain or prove where they belong, then we will have made real progress towards achieving that goal. 

The interview was conducted by Zoe Klein.

Özge Karabulut is 24 years old. She completed her apprenticeship as an industrial clerk at Hach Lange GmbH. During her apprenticeship, she served two terms on the youth and apprentice representative committee. She also volunteered for IG Metall for five years. Today, she serves as a youth secretary at IG Metall in Berlin, where she continues to champion young people’s interests in the world of work.