فاس نيوز ميديا جريدة الكترونية جهوية تعنى بشؤون و أخبار جهة فاس مكناس – متجددة على مدار الساعة
The recent amendment to Spain’s immigration law, approved by the Spanish government, marks a radical transformation in the policies regarding the regularization of migrants, opening new opportunities for foreign workers, especially in vital sectors suffering from chronic shortages.
According to reports by El País and Euronews, the Spanish Cabinet has approved a new decree that facilitates the process for undocumented migrants to obtain residence and work permits, as part of a strategy to meet the increasing demand in the labor market and more effectively integrate migrants.
As announced by the Spanish Minister of State for Migration, Consuelo Bueno, the amendment allows migrants who have been residing in the country for two years or more to apply for residence permits if they join accredited vocational training programs in fields specified in the “National Catalog of Job Vacancies,” such as healthcare, agriculture, construction, and hospitality. The minister emphasized that the new law aims not only to regularize migrants’ status but also to economically and socially integrate them, benefiting both the state and the migrants.
Human rights organizations have welcomed this move, considering it a significant step toward “more humane immigration policies.” Amnesty International Spain also expressed hope that these reforms would be accompanied by improvements in reception conditions and working conditions for migrants, particularly in the southern regions of Spain, where exploitation in the agricultural sector is most prominent. The General Union of Workers (UGT) issued a statement stating that “the decree lays the foundation for a more realistic migration policy,” but warned that “its success is contingent on strict monitoring of the law’s implementation and the protection of migrant workers’ rights.”
On the other hand, the amendment has faced widespread criticism from right-wing conservative parties, particularly the “Vox” party, which argued that these measures would encourage “irregular immigration” and could exacerbate the pressure on public services. At the European level, reactions have varied; EU Commissioner for Migration, Ylva Johansson, stated that “Spain is offering an alternative model for handling migration in a more balanced way,” while some countries have called for greater coordination on integration policies.
It is estimated that approximately 500,000 undocumented migrants are residing in Spain, according to official figures from the Ministry of Inclusion and Social Security. This new amendment follows months of calls from civil society organizations and popular campaigns to regularize migrants’ status, including the “Regularización Ya” campaign, which garnered wide parliamentary support. Observers believe that the new law could reshape the country’s immigration landscape, while presenting challenges related to implementation, monitoring, and balancing economic needs with human rights considerations.
Source: Fes News Media
