The Spanish government will grant one-year residency and work permits to up to 25,000 foreigners affected by the flash floods that hit eastern Spain, mainly Valencia, in October, officials announced Tuesday, the Associated Press reported.
The measure, approved by Spain’s cabinet, is intended to streamline paperwork for those living irregularly in dozens of flood-hit towns, primarily in the Valencia region.
It is part of the government’s recovery plan following the Oct. 29 disaster, which killed 227 people and destroyed homes and businesses. The Spanish daily El País first reported the news, which the Ministry of Inclusion, Social Security and Migration later confirmed to the AP.
The ministry said the torrential rains left many immigrants unable to meet legal requirements for living, studying, and working in Spain. Many employers also struggled to comply with bureaucratic requirements to hire foreign workers.
The one-year permits will be granted under “unexpected exceptional circumstances” but can be denied over concerns related to public order, security, or health, according to the ministry. Foreigners who lost relatives in the floods will be eligible for five-year residency.
While several European governments have tightened migration policies, Spain has taken a different approach, highlighting migrant workers’ contributions to economic growth.
Foreigners make up about 15.9% of Spain’s registered workforce, though many more work in the underground economy, picking fruit, cleaning homes, or caring for the elderly. With a declining birth rate, the Spanish government has reaffirmed the need for more legal migrants to support social security and pensions.
While Spain has signed agreements with African countries to curb irregular migration, it has also passed measures to legalize the status of immigrants already in the country. Most arrive legally from Latin America and overstay their visas.