The Spanish Parliament has greenlit the examination of a public legislative initiative aiming to regularize the status of half a million migrants living in the country without residency permits.
Launched in 2021 by a group of undocumented migrants through the "Regularization Now" platform, the initiative reached the Senate with the support of 600,000 signatures and a wide array of NGOs and associations aiding migrants.
Details Behind the Regularization Initiative
According to Jorge Serrano Paradinas, the coordinator of the "Public Legislative Initiative for Extraordinary Regularization of Foreigners in Spain," the massive signature drive was designed to "force the Parliament and its members to discuss and vote on the proposal."
Paradinas told "Sky News Arabia" that the legislative initiative was presented to the Parliament's Administrative Committee on April 6 and was considered by the Chamber of Deputies, receiving approval from 310 deputies in a significant symbolic vote—the likes of which has not been seen in decades.
Following the vote in the Immigration Committee, political parties are now required to discuss the proposal and amendments to determine the implementation of this regulation.
Challenging Path Ahead
The path of the bill is expected to be slow and winding but will at least open up a debate about the situation of 500,000 migrants in Spain living illegally.
Paradinas pointed out that these migrants often face exploitation due to their status. "More than 80% of these individuals work in a community where labor market standards do not apply. They may work many more hours than legally permitted, receive less than the minimum professional wage, not get paid for holidays, and lack severance or protection against dismissal," he explained.
Furthermore, these migrants do not contribute to social security, thus do not qualify for a pension, and face significant difficulties accessing basic services like education, health, and social benefits.
Details of the Initiative
The conditions for extraordinary regularization, which have been implemented in the past, are based on three criteria:
- Migrants must have been present in Spain for more than six months.
- Migrants must not have a criminal record.
- Migrants must have a stable job offer.
Paradinas views this initiative positively, noting, "These are the people who pick the fruits we eat, care for our children and elderly, work in our restaurants, and build our homes. They played a crucial role during the COVID-19 pandemic as they were the ones delivering purchases to our homes when we were isolated."
If approved, "the measure will equally cover all nationalities," according to a communications officer from the "Alliance for Solidarity" association, who stated to "Sky News Arabia" that "the agreement would benefit around 100 nationalities, especially undocumented migrants from Latin America, Morocco, and Sub-Saharan Africa, as well as a significant proportion from countries like Pakistan and the Middle East."
The Spanish Parliament is expected to continue discussing the initiative until May 9, allowing parliamentary groups to submit amendments to the legislative text.
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