- The new law affects young migrants on Spanish territory: Those who joined agriculture during the pandemic will be able to obtain work and residence permits for two years. The Government estimated that, owing to the closure of the borders of the pandemic, workers needed between 75,000 and 80,000 to carry out the work that migrants were doing in agriculture in other years. Thus, the Government passed the first law on 7 April last, and on 26 May it extended it for a further three months.
The pandemic has led to the closure of the borders of most states and, consequently, the prohibition of access to cheap foreign labour. An example of this is the Spanish agricultural sector, which, at the end of the border, has run out of staff. The Royal Decree adopted by the Government on 7 April granted to migrants with residence permits up to 18-21 years of age the work permit to work in the affected area, which amounts to between 75,000 and 80,000 workers. This permit, which was extended until 30 June, has been extended by the Government for a further three months.
Possibility of moving from an agricultural licence to a two-year licence for all works
Young people who, since 7 April, have obtained a residence and work licence to pursue agriculture through the Royal Decree of the Government, may obtain a residence and work licence for 2 years. This work permit will not be linked to agriculture, it will be valid for any sector.
The Government of Spain, through this law, wants to ensure that “there are enough hands to collect the harvest”. The demand for anti-racist groups has long been to unconditionally regulate the situation of migrants. They criticize the mercantilist nature of the decision taken by the Government, considering that it promotes “use and expulsion” contracts for migrants.