Spain is preparing to introduce a programme that will connect migrants with jobs while helping hundreds of thousands of undocumented workers obtain legal status as part of a broader effort to strengthen the economy and address labour shortages.
The proposal, which is yet to be formally launched, was first announced in January and is expected to benefit about half a million undocumented migrants already living and working in the country.
Spain’s Secretary of State for Migration, Pilar Cancela, said the initiative reflects both humanitarian and economic priorities, describing it as a practical response to the country’s demographic and labour challenges.
According to her, the government is ready to process as many as one million applications and will provide job-matching support to help migrants secure formal employment.
Cancela said migrants would be directed toward sectors facing acute labour shortages, including construction, tourism, transport and caregiving services.
“It’s a huge opportunity to harness the potential of all these people who are already helping to build the country alongside us, often working in precarious conditions,” she said.
She added that the programme would be accompanied by stronger labour inspections aimed at exposing exploitation and improving working conditions.
“I think it’s also a major opportunity to bring certain situations to light, because when people come forward in the regularisation process, we will learn about their circumstances,” Cancela noted.
Spanish authorities argue that the policy could help secure the long-term sustainability of public services and pension systems as the country’s population continues to age.
Government estimates suggest Spain will need around 2.4 million additional workers contributing to social security over the next decade to maintain economic stability.
Data cited from think tank Funcas indicates that roughly 840,000 undocumented migrants currently work in Spain’s informal economy, many of them migrants from Latin America.
Officials say the proposed scheme is designed not only to legalise employment but also to bring thousands of workers out of vulnerable and poorly regulated jobs into the formal labour market.
