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This paper examines several aspects of the social situation of the older immigrant population in Switzerland. It reviews their demographic history and characteristics and provides profiles of their health and well being, their material standard of life and access to social security and related benefits. It reports selected findings from an original survey of older Italian and Spanish citizens who are resident in the country, which show relatively high rates of disadvantage and poverty. The determination of a large proportion of the immigrant population to remain in Switzerland after they have ceased work demonstrates that the minorities who entered the country as labour migrants will become a permanent element of the Swiss population and its society. Neither the politicians nor the general public in Switzerland have yet accepted the reality of this new diversity. Given the continuation and indeed growth of international labour migration, the paper concludes by discussing the social policy and attitudinal options that face the governments and the population of Switzerland and many other European countries.

The Family, a Source of Legitimacy for Immigrants after their Retirement ? The case of the Spanish and Italians in Switzerland. Claudio Bolzman, Rosita Fibbi et Marie Vial. At the present time a new phenomena is emerging in Europe : immigrant workers who came to different countries during the fifties and sixties are reaching retirement age. Starting from this fact, this paper deals with two issues : on the one hand, we analyse the process of settling down of immigrants in the residence country and the place of the family in this process ; on the other hand, we study the influence of the family upon the future projects of the first generation of Italian and Spaniards near retirement age, particularly with respect to their projected country of residence. We are especially interested in the issue of return migration : is it an inexorable consequence of retirement from labour market, or does family represent, through its presence and help, a resource for elderly migrants, allowing them to take their place in the resident society ? We try to answer to these questions using data form three surveys we have carried out about persons from Italian and Spanish origin in Switzerland.

Italianas y Españolas en Suiza próximas a la edad de la jubilación. Rosita Fibbi, Claudio Bolzman, Marie Vial. A partir de los resultados de un estudio sobre los italianos y españoles residentes en Suiza y próximos a la edad de la jubilación, los autores tratan de la condición de la mujer inmigrante. El artículo analiza los modelos de incorporación de las mujeres inmigrantes en el mercado laboral, la manera como esta actividad extra-familiar es evaluada y resentida en términos de estado de salud, asi como su impacto sobre los roles familiares. El artículo aborda también las caracteristicas de la red de sociabilidad construida por las mujeres después de muchos anos de permanencia en la sociedad de inmigración y, finalmente, sus proyectos en cuanto al futuro lugar de residencia una vez alcanzada la edad de la jubilación.

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