Latin American immigration in different contexts of reception

Abstract

The socio-economic and political changes which have taken place in Spain since the political transition to democracy in 1975 until today have generated two clearly differentiated reception contexts for the incorporation of immigrant workers. Specifically, this article deals with the case of Latin American immigration in Madrid, an immigrant group which speaks the same language as the local population, as a clear example of the importance of the integration of immigrants into the workforce. It shows that the historical moment in which their incorporation has taken place has been a determining factor in the type of job, especially as regards their job dependence, and the success of the evolution of their working and economic situation. The contextual changes in Spanish policy with respect to immigration and the socio-cultural and ideological transformation of the Spanish people within the framework of the ongoing process of Spanish integration into international economic and political circles.