In Arabic means old man or " white hair " . These terms refer to migrant workers in France , generally Maghreb , but also from sub -Saharan migrants become pensioners . They are also sometimes called old age migrants or immigrants. Having been the subject of a special status , the chibanis are often at the time of their retirement, compared to injured French nationals exercising the same job. Qualified on arrival "young workers, " an estimated 800 000 to 850 000 persons within this' precarious status , "4 which 350,000 are over sixty-five years5 .