Spain has announced plans to offer one-year residency and work permits to up to 25,000 immigrants who were impacted by devastating flash floods that struck the country’s eastern region in October. This move aims to assist individuals who were left homeless by the disaster, particularly in the Valencia area.
The Spanish government approved the measure in a cabinet session yesterday as part of an extensive recovery effort following the catastrophic flooding on October 29. The disaster, triggered by heavy rains, claimed the lives of 227 people and caused widespread destruction of homes and businesses.
The Ministry of Inclusion, Social Security and Migration explained that the floods disrupted lives to such an extent that many immigrants found it difficult to meet the requirements for living, working, and studying legally in Spain. The flooding also left many employers unable to navigate the necessary paperwork to hire foreign workers.
According to the ministry, the temporary permits will be issued in light of the “unexpected exceptional circumstances,” but warned they could be revoked if there are concerns related to public safety, health, or security.
In addition to the temporary work and residency permits, foreigners who lost family members in the floods will be granted five-year residency in Spain.
While much of Europe is tightening its immigration policies, Spain has continued to recognize the valuable contributions of migrant workers to its economy, which has seen job growth over the past year. Foreigners currently account for 15.9% of the country’s registered workforce, although many others work informally in sectors like agriculture, domestic labor, and elderly care.
Facing a declining birthrate, Spain has emphasized the need for more migrants to contribute to the social security and pension systems. Despite recent efforts to curb irregular migration, including limiting partnerships with African nations to address dangerous Mediterranean routes, the country is taking steps to regularize the status of immigrants already residing there without legal authorization. Many of these individuals arrived legally from Latin America but overstayed their visas.
