Morocco has introduced new measures to strengthen support for Moroccan women employed as seasonal agricultural workers in Spain, Minister of Economic Inclusion, Small Business, Employment, and Skills Younes Sekkouri said.
Speaking before the House of Representatives on Monday, he said the measures were developed in coordination with the Spanish authorities and Morocco’s National Agency for the Promotion of Employment and Skills (ANAPEC).
Among the new measures are changes to the selection process and the introduction of four-year visas for eligible workers. Sekkouri said more than 81% of participating workers return to Morocco at the end of each seasonal contract.
He also highlighted the rapid expansion of the program, noting that the number of Moroccan women employed in Spain’s agricultural sector has increased from around 3,000 a decade ago to more than 15,000 each year.
The minister welcomed what he described as the commitment of the Spanish authorities to improving working conditions but acknowledged that some challenges remain, particularly for first-time participants, who often face language barriers and limited awareness of their rights, despite receiving pre-departure training sessions and awareness workshops organized in Morocco.
He said he had met with employers in the province of Huelva, which hosts around 90% of Moroccan seasonal agricultural workers in Spain, to discuss issues affecting the program.
Sekkouri added that meetings involving the Moroccan Embassy, the Consulate General in Seville, and Spain’s relevant minister had reaffirmed the need to uphold workers’ rights, including access to health insurance from the moment they arrive in Spain, easier procedures for filing complaints, and language assistance where needed.
