Spain Calls for Moroccan Immigrants
2 June 2009
Read by 1723 persons
Long considered by Moroccans as a transit point, Spain has become a country of immigration. They now constitute the largest foreign community there. “The Spanish economy will need around 200,000 foreign workers in 2007 to cover job market offers.”
This was stated on Friday, January 19, by the Spanish Minister of Labor and Social Affairs, Jesus Caldera, on the sidelines of a European meeting in Berlin. For young Moroccan men and women cherishing the European dream, these are great opportunities, encouraged by the Spanish government's willingness to integrate them legally into the job market and in accordance with the European model.
Already, the first convoys of Moroccan workers have started heading to the Iberian Peninsula since the beginning of the year, where they are welcomed with open arms to participate in strawberry harvesting operations. A sector that today employs many Moroccan women, known for their seriousness and dedication to work. The only drawback: the employment is seasonal and can only last a few months. But they are relatively well paid and often return to Morocco with a small fortune amassed through long working days.
Spain, until recently an emigration country (the country still has about 2.5 million residents abroad), was hardly a preferred destination for Moroccans, but rather a transit country, or even a step towards traditional host countries like France. The 1990s marked a turning point in Spain's migration history, becoming a land of immigration par excellence. From 1991 onwards, Spain's migration balance has been consistently positive. Spain's economic recovery and its accession to the European Union in the 1980s created an increased demand for labor, hence the significant influx of migrants over the last decade.
Today, Spain has nearly four million foreigners, or 8.5% of the population, more than France, where the proportion is 8%. Within this foreign population, Moroccans are the most numerous. This strong presence highlights the importance of this community in relations between Morocco and Spain. In January 2006, Moroccans, numbering 600,000, represented the largest foreign community in Spain at 13.7%, followed by Ecuadorians with 500,000, Romanians (300,000) and Colombians (200,000). Moroccans with regular status, who only numbered 5,800 in 1985, have seen their numbers increase rapidly to reach 400,000 in 2003 and 500,000 in 2005. The number of Moroccans has thus increased more than 87 times in 20 years. Men and women alike emigrate to Spain, but a recent review of their gender distribution reveals a gradual feminization. This began timidly during the first regularization in 1986, largely in connection with family reunification, which mainly benefited the first Moroccan immigrants in Spain, many of whom took this opportunity to regularize their situation and bring their families. The women of this first wave were relatively older, housewives, a profile that contrasts with that of later regularizations involving younger and more independent women. Another phenomenon that characterizes the age structure of Moroccans in Spain today is a noticeable rejuvenation of this community. Thus, in 2005, about 85% of Moroccans were under 45 years old, with 54% between 26 and 45 years old, 18% between 17 and 25 years old, and 12% under 16 years old. In contrast, the proportion of people aged 46-65 is only 10.2%. This low proportion of elderly people is probably due to the relatively recent nature of Moroccan immigration to Spain. Along with the sustained growth of the Moroccan community in Spain, its regional distribution has diversified, although four regions remain the most attractive poles for this community: Catalonia, where more than a third of Moroccans reside, is clearly the predominant area, followed by Madrid, which occupies the second position (14%), and Andalusia (13.5%).
The presence of Moroccans in the Balearic and Canary Islands is relatively important. While the attraction of other regions such as Castile, Leon or the Basque Country remains very moderate overall. The weight of Andalusia has been greatly strengthened due to its position as an entry point into Spain where the majority of illegal immigrants arrive, but also due to the type of integration of the Moroccan workforce in the Spanish job market, the importance of the underground economy in the region and the explosion since the 1980s of tourist activity.
Overall, and apart from the capital, most of the Moroccan population in Spain is located in the Mediterranean regions of the country. While economic considerations justify such a geographical distribution, other factors of a historical and cultural nature must be considered in explaining the phenomenon. The presidios of Ceuta and Melilla, given their particular status, are places of deployment for Moroccans residing in Spain. But, whether legal or illegal, temporary or permanent, Moroccan migration to Spain is now a structural fact both economically and socioculturally, insofar as it affects different regions of Morocco, cities and countryside, to varying degrees. Traditionally, the North of Morocco, corresponding to the former Spanish protectorate zone, was the main source of Moroccan emigration to Spain. This is the Jebala region covering the provinces of Tetouan, Tangier, Chaouen, Larache and the Rif with its two provinces: Nador and Al-Hoceima. However, from the 1980s onwards, two new centers emerged: Casablanca and Rabat-Salé. Motivated by the desire to earn a good living in a European country that now has a fast-growing economy, these Moroccans are divided between salaried work and self-employment.
For the former, it should be recalled that Spain grants foreigners a work permit conditioned by the employment situation of Spaniards. These work permits are only issued for jobs in activities where there is a need for labor or which are refused by the Spanish workforce. In general, the sectors that recruit Moroccans are: agriculture, with nearly 37%, services (35%), construction (15.5%), and industry (8%). For the self-employed, that is, those who choose entrepreneurship, they are still few: only 4% of the Moroccan community in Spain. But their contribution to money transfers to Morocco is significant. In general, Moroccans residing in Spain transferred 50 billion dirhams to their country of origin in 2006. A considerable amount, which the Moroccan economy will certainly benefit from, especially in the real estate sector where Moroccans from abroad invest the most.
Published November 13, 2007
Bladi.net
This was stated on Friday, January 19, by the Spanish Minister of Labor and Social Affairs, Jesus Caldera, on the sidelines of a European meeting in Berlin. For young Moroccan men and women cherishing the European dream, these are great opportunities, encouraged by the Spanish government's willingness to integrate them legally into the job market and in accordance with the European model.
Already, the first convoys of Moroccan workers have started heading to the Iberian Peninsula since the beginning of the year, where they are welcomed with open arms to participate in strawberry harvesting operations. A sector that today employs many Moroccan women, known for their seriousness and dedication to work. The only drawback: the employment is seasonal and can only last a few months. But they are relatively well paid and often return to Morocco with a small fortune amassed through long working days.
Spain, until recently an emigration country (the country still has about 2.5 million residents abroad), was hardly a preferred destination for Moroccans, but rather a transit country, or even a step towards traditional host countries like France. The 1990s marked a turning point in Spain's migration history, becoming a land of immigration par excellence. From 1991 onwards, Spain's migration balance has been consistently positive. Spain's economic recovery and its accession to the European Union in the 1980s created an increased demand for labor, hence the significant influx of migrants over the last decade.
Today, Spain has nearly four million foreigners, or 8.5% of the population, more than France, where the proportion is 8%. Within this foreign population, Moroccans are the most numerous. This strong presence highlights the importance of this community in relations between Morocco and Spain. In January 2006, Moroccans, numbering 600,000, represented the largest foreign community in Spain at 13.7%, followed by Ecuadorians with 500,000, Romanians (300,000) and Colombians (200,000). Moroccans with regular status, who only numbered 5,800 in 1985, have seen their numbers increase rapidly to reach 400,000 in 2003 and 500,000 in 2005. The number of Moroccans has thus increased more than 87 times in 20 years. Men and women alike emigrate to Spain, but a recent review of their gender distribution reveals a gradual feminization. This began timidly during the first regularization in 1986, largely in connection with family reunification, which mainly benefited the first Moroccan immigrants in Spain, many of whom took this opportunity to regularize their situation and bring their families. The women of this first wave were relatively older, housewives, a profile that contrasts with that of later regularizations involving younger and more independent women. Another phenomenon that characterizes the age structure of Moroccans in Spain today is a noticeable rejuvenation of this community. Thus, in 2005, about 85% of Moroccans were under 45 years old, with 54% between 26 and 45 years old, 18% between 17 and 25 years old, and 12% under 16 years old. In contrast, the proportion of people aged 46-65 is only 10.2%. This low proportion of elderly people is probably due to the relatively recent nature of Moroccan immigration to Spain. Along with the sustained growth of the Moroccan community in Spain, its regional distribution has diversified, although four regions remain the most attractive poles for this community: Catalonia, where more than a third of Moroccans reside, is clearly the predominant area, followed by Madrid, which occupies the second position (14%), and Andalusia (13.5%).
The presence of Moroccans in the Balearic and Canary Islands is relatively important. While the attraction of other regions such as Castile, Leon or the Basque Country remains very moderate overall. The weight of Andalusia has been greatly strengthened due to its position as an entry point into Spain where the majority of illegal immigrants arrive, but also due to the type of integration of the Moroccan workforce in the Spanish job market, the importance of the underground economy in the region and the explosion since the 1980s of tourist activity.
Overall, and apart from the capital, most of the Moroccan population in Spain is located in the Mediterranean regions of the country. While economic considerations justify such a geographical distribution, other factors of a historical and cultural nature must be considered in explaining the phenomenon. The presidios of Ceuta and Melilla, given their particular status, are places of deployment for Moroccans residing in Spain. But, whether legal or illegal, temporary or permanent, Moroccan migration to Spain is now a structural fact both economically and socioculturally, insofar as it affects different regions of Morocco, cities and countryside, to varying degrees. Traditionally, the North of Morocco, corresponding to the former Spanish protectorate zone, was the main source of Moroccan emigration to Spain. This is the Jebala region covering the provinces of Tetouan, Tangier, Chaouen, Larache and the Rif with its two provinces: Nador and Al-Hoceima. However, from the 1980s onwards, two new centers emerged: Casablanca and Rabat-Salé. Motivated by the desire to earn a good living in a European country that now has a fast-growing economy, these Moroccans are divided between salaried work and self-employment.
For the former, it should be recalled that Spain grants foreigners a work permit conditioned by the employment situation of Spaniards. These work permits are only issued for jobs in activities where there is a need for labor or which are refused by the Spanish workforce. In general, the sectors that recruit Moroccans are: agriculture, with nearly 37%, services (35%), construction (15.5%), and industry (8%). For the self-employed, that is, those who choose entrepreneurship, they are still few: only 4% of the Moroccan community in Spain. But their contribution to money transfers to Morocco is significant. In general, Moroccans residing in Spain transferred 50 billion dirhams to their country of origin in 2006. A considerable amount, which the Moroccan economy will certainly benefit from, especially in the real estate sector where Moroccans from abroad invest the most.
Published November 13, 2007
Bladi.net
