The Spanish authorities plan to legalize up to 300,000 migrants annually to address the labor shortage in the country due to an aging population, stated Spain's Minister of Social Security and Migration, Elma Saiz, on Tuesday.
"Spain faces a choice between being an open, prosperous country or a closed, impoverished one. We have chosen the latter," Western media quoted her as saying.
According to her, the policy aimed at attracting migrants will last for three years. She specified that Spain needs 250,000 to 300,000 foreign workers each year who are capable of paying taxes, in order to maintain the welfare state.
The new measures from the authorities include simplifying procedures for granting residence and work permits to immigrants, which will help ensure guaranteed labor rights for foreign workers. Additionally, newcomers seeking employment will be able to extend their visa duration from three to 12 months. Foreign students with a study visa will be allowed to work up to 30 hours a week.
Media reports indicate that Spain's economy, with a population of 48.9 million, is the fastest-growing in the EU. This trend is partly driven by the influx of skilled migrants from Latin American countries. According to Fitch Ratings Inc., more migrants entered Spain in 2022 than in the entire previous decade combined.
However, October opinion polls conducted by Spanish media revealed that 57% of respondents believe the current level of migration to the country is too high. Furthermore, 54% believe that the actual number of immigrants is higher than what the authorities report.