A 27-year-old Moroccan worker who has spent seven years as an undocumented migrant in Spain sees new possibilities ahead as the country’s leftist government rolls out a comprehensive amnesty program.
Abdelmoujoud Erra has survived on temporary jobs and lived in makeshift settlements, but now hopes the amnesty initiative could change his circumstances. “Without documents you work for five euros ($5.80) an hour. With documents, you work legally, with more money — maybe seven or eight euros an hour,” Erra explained from the southern Spanish province of Almería, where undocumented workers congregate at traffic circles seeking employment in the region’s vast greenhouse operations.
The amnesty program, which continues through June, represents a cornerstone of Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez’s strategy to capitalize on migration’s economic advantages for Spain’s aging society, contrasting with border restrictions implemented by other nations.
However, the initiative has sparked fierce criticism from conservative opposition groups. The People’s Party argues it will overwhelm government services, while Vox has claimed the administration seeks to displace Spanish citizens.
For Erra, legal documentation would have opened doors to pursuing his boxing ambitions and visiting relatives in Morocco. “I’ve lost a lot of time. If only I had had papers earlier,” he reflected. Recently, a blaze destroyed the informal camp where he resided, though his amnesty paperwork survived because he had stored it at the local Red Cross facility.
Almería’s agricultural zone spans over 30,000 hectares (74,100 acres) of plastic-covered intensive farming, making it the European Union’s primary winter vegetable source. The region ships tomatoes, cucumbers and other produce valued at 3 billion euros each year while providing work for approximately 80,000 individuals, according to labor organizations and government officials.
Agricultural business associations and worker representatives express optimism that the amnesty will help solve staffing shortages. Andrés Góngora, coordinator of farmers’ union COAG, recognized that the industry relies on some undocumented workers and said the amnesty would create stability. Expanding the legal workforce could enable cultivation of more labor-demanding crops while promoting community harmony, he noted.
Advocacy organizations have consistently condemned living conditions in the Almería area, estimating approximately 10,000 migrants reside in inadequate housing and that at least 70% of agricultural workers lack legal status.
Spain’s population of 50 million has grown recently due to migration flows. Research organization Funcas calculates that roughly 840,000 undocumented migrants currently participate in the labor force.
Michael Aymaga, a 35-year-old from Ghana, represents another hopeful applicant. He lives in a migrant encampment near Nijar, where electrical service is sporadic and water availability is restricted. The amnesty opportunity fills him with excitement as he expresses his desire to give back to his adopted country. “I would definitely use all my skills and everything I have to help Spain (become) a better Spain,” he stated.
