For years, the ruling classes of the EU member states have systematically refused to accept their share of responsibility for the situation of refugees in the Middle East; however, what has been dubbed “the refugee crisis” encompasses only a small part of what has resulted from long-standing policies, including those of the European Union. The political changes taking place today are having a significant impact on the politics of integration, and, seen from a longer-term perspective, on global labour relations. The least qualified and poorest migrants, both men and women, are increasingly becoming a cheap labour force used by global capital to rapidly increase profits. The article was written in the spring of 2016 during the rapidly changing political situation arising from the so-called “refugee crisis”. The text attempts to analyze the impact of today’s policy decisions on future generations of workers, and on refugees, as well.