Challenging the concept of "cross-border work": A comparative study of sustainability of labour mobility in European borderlands

Cross-border work in Europe has grown increasingly prevalent due to the continent’s geography and the European Union’s (EU) single market, with the Schengen Agreement facilitating the movement of people by eliminating internal border controls. This chapter compares the mobility characteristics and regional impacts of cross-border workers in two contrasting contexts: the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg, an EU region benefiting from high salaries and favourable conditions, and Melilla, a Spanish enclave at the Moroccan border. Moroccan workers in Melilla navigate tight security and legal obstacles, embodying the precarious nature of low-skill jobs in informal economies, whereas their EU counterparts experience more regulated labour markets. Employing a most different cases comparative analysis, this research investigates sustainability challenges linked to cross-border mobility, recognizing the interconnectedness of migration dynamics, legal structures, and socio-economic conditions. The chapter ultimately aims to propose measures that enhance the sustainability of these border regions and reassess the implications of the concept “cross-border work” amid evolving challenges.