Vertragsarbeiter

They were living in the country long-term, without the intention of being integrated as guest workers.

[2] Contract workers also worked in economically more advanced Comecon countries such as Czechoslovakia and the People's Republic of Hungary.

The respective conditions, length of stay, rights and number of contract workers were negotiated individually with the respective government (by a so-called state contract).

The duration of the residence permit varied between two and six years depending on the origin.

At the end of the contractual period, contract workers usually had to leave and return to their home country.