There is news for international mobility in the Spanish work market. The Government has approved a reform of the law on foreigners in Spain that will allow more facilities for migrants living in the country. In practice, thousands of people will be able to join the Spanish work market.

There is news for international mobility in the Spanish work market. The Government has approved a reform of the law on foreigners in Spain that will allow more facilities for migrants living in the country. In practice, thousands of people will be able to join the Spanish work market.

The Spanish Minister of Inclusion and Social Security, Jose Luis Escrivá, has promoted this reform, which seeks to make up for the lack of labour in various sectors of the country. Who are the primary beneficiaries? When will it come into force? Find out below:

Who Will Have an Easier Time Entering The Spanish Work Market?

2.3 million active workers in Spain were born outside the country. From now on, that number will grow widely. These are the groups that will benefit most from Jose Luis Escrivá’s changes to Spain’s immigration law:

  • Students. The regulation will enable the “arraigo por formación”, which means that students will be able to access the work market much more easily. A training course will entitle them to a work permit, so they will be able to work while studying. However, the contract may not be for more than 30 hours per week.
  • Difficult-to-cover workers. The new law on foreigners in Spain will make changes in the professions that are difficult to cover. The catalogue that defines them will be modified every three months and hiring these workers from abroad will be easier.
  • Workers in origin. Many foreign workers from Spain will be able to be hired collectively. With Jose Luis Escrivá’s reform, these migrants can obtain a four-year authorization with which they can work nine months a year.

The reform also contemplates easing the process for migrants already residing in Spain. They will be able to regularize their situation and start working more quickly. Many other changes will make a key difference to the situation of the millions of foreign workers residing in Spain.

When Does The Reform of the Law on Foreigners in Spain Come Into Force?

The Government has already approved the text and the reform has been published in the Official State Gazette (BOE). However, this does not mean that the whole reform is already legal. The deadlines are a bit more complex.

The reform of the immigration law in Spain comes into force 20 days after its publication in the BOE. This means that it will start to operate on August 15. However, some of the deleted articles will take a year to take effect. Even so, it is advisable to check the BOE to know all the modifications that the international work market in Spain will undergo in the coming months.

With this news, it is without a doubt a perfect time to look for jobs in Spain. Take advantage of the opportunity if you live abroad!

3 Opinions For and 3 Against the Reform of the Law of Foreigners in Spain

The government’s modifications have not been supported by all sectors. There are many arguments in favour but there are also several reasons against the reform. 

Among the positive consequences pointed out by experts, we can find:

  • Coverage of difficult positions. When the Spanish employment services identify professions that are difficult to cover, they will be incorporated into a specific catalogue. The Spanish work market lacks labour in sectors such as construction or digital. 
  • Promotion of legal immigration. Facilitating the arrival of foreign workers and their legalization can be very positive for the work market. It could turn Spain into an attractive destination for employees from all over the world.
  • More skilled labour. The reform of Spain’s immigration law plans to make it easier for students to enter the work market. Thus, there will be more skilled labour for positions requiring more training.

However, the Ministry of the Interior and the Ministry of Territorial Policy point out some problems that may arise from this reform of the law:

  • The collapse of the Foreigner offices. The process of regularization of migrants is known for its slowness. If many more people are added, it is possible that the situation will reach a collapse and the duration of the processes will become much longer.
  • Call effect. According to the Ministry of the Interior, the reform of the law on foreigners in Spain may have a knock-on effect. Thus, human trafficking mafias would promote Spain as a desirable destination and would attract much more irregular immigration.
  • Deterioration of conditions for local workers. This is another problem pointed out by many experts. Encouraging immigrant labour can halt progress in improving working conditions. If local people do not take the jobs because conditions are not good but migrants do, improving working conditions becomes impossible.

A problem or an opportunity? Whichever way you look at it, this reform of the immigration law in Spain will fundamentally change the work market. That’s why it’s time to be aware of the possibilities. And for that, nothing better than relying on Jobstoday.world, your perfect place to find international employment. We are waiting for you!

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