The Government of Spain has significantly eased the conditions for undocumented foreign workers, in an effort to bring thousands of them into the official workforce and regulate jobs in sectors with staff shortages such as hospitality and agriculture.

The Government decree reforms the immigration law and makes it easier for Spanish employers to hire workers while they are still in their home country, as well as the conditions for obtaining a work permit for workers who are already in Spain.

The Spanish Ministry for Migration has acknowledged that the previous procedures were “often slow and inadequate”, and that this led to high social and economic costs for the country.

It is estimated that around 500,000 people work in Spain’s grey economy.

Foreign workers who have lived in Spain for two or more years can apply for temporary residence by enrolling in training courses for jobs in sectors with high demand.

Foreign students will be able to start working in Spain immediately after completing their education, whereas until now they had to wait three years. Foreign students will also be allowed to work up to 30 hours per week while studying.

Work permits can also be requested by foreigners who can prove that they have been residing in Spain for at least two years and have been working without papers for at least six months.

Source: bizlife.rs