Immigration in Spain

The immigrants in Spain make up 1.5% of the total population. 54.5% are from the European Union. Immigration in Spain became important in the mid 1980`s. The government is interested in the social integration of the immigrants, and therefore invests in campaigns for their integration. The Spanish have supported attitudes towards the immigrants. The immigrant workers replace the Spanish in low-status work and are therefore welcome and supported. In December 1997 were 150.000 illegal immigrants reported living in Spain.  An increase in female immigration was reported, 44.8% of immigrants in Spain are women. There was also an increase in third world immigrants, they come from Morocco, China, Peru, Dominican Republic, Argentina and Philippines.

The enactment of Organice Law in 1985 was the first immigration policy in Spain, it is also called the Aliens' Law. Spain passed this law six months before they entered the EEC. The law determines the procedure for aliens to enter, reside and work. The immigrants have to have an employment contract or a work permit of a certain duration to be able to work legally. Before immigrants get a work permit, the authorities consider teh local work situation and the unemployment rate of Spanish workers in that area. If an employer cancels teh contract or the time of the permit runs out, the immigrant is an illegal resident again. He then has to fear an expulsion again.

The government created three new initiatives since 1985 to help the illegal immigrants out of their illegal stauts. But all initiatives failed because of the difficulty of renewing their work and residence permission. A new Regulation of the Aliens' Law was passed in 1996 which is important to immigrants that have lived legally in Spain for six years or longer. They are now able to receive a "permanent work permit".

http://www.eiro.eurofound.ie/1999/04/Feature/ES9904214F.html

worked on by Anneke Focken