Morocco’s Minister of Employment Younes Sekkouri, said the bilateral agreement governing the employment of Moroccan seasonal workers in Spain guarantees their rights, but stressed that stronger support from both Moroccan and Spanish authorities is needed to ensure those protections are effectively implemented.
Speaking during a parliamentary question session on Monday, Sekkouri said the ministry encourages seasonal workers to report any violations they encounter and pledged to provide assistance, particularly in cases where language barriers prevent workers from filing complaints.
The minister said workers are entitled to health insurance before beginning employment and must be free to move without restrictions, adding that employers cannot limit them to a single weekly trip for shopping or other personal needs.
Sekkouri said he recently visited the Spanish province of Huelva, where most Moroccan seasonal agricultural workers are employed, after the ministry received complaints regarding working conditions.
During the visit, he held meetings with several employers.
According to the minister, many of the difficulties identified stem from the fact that newly recruited workers often have limited Spanish-language skills and insufficient knowledge of their legal rights despite receiving pre-departure training in Morocco.
He highlighted ongoing coordination with the Moroccan Embassy in Spain and the Moroccan Consulate General in Seville, noting that meetings were also held with Spanish employers, who expressed interest in recruiting larger numbers of Moroccan seasonal workers.
Sekkouri said the cooperation aims both to improve support for workers during their stay in Spain and to ensure their rights are respected while addressing any problems that arise.
The minister said the seasonal employment program has expanded significantly over the past decade through coordination between Moroccan and Spanish authorities.
He noted that the recruitment process and visa system have been revised, with work visas now valid for four years.
According to Sekkouri, more than 81% of participating workers return annually under the program.
He added that the number of Moroccan seasonal workers employed in Spain has increased from about 3,000 a decade ago to more than 15,000 each year.
Sekkouri also highlighted the Wafira 2 program, which supports returning seasonal agricultural workers by helping them launch income-generating projects in Morocco.
He said the number of beneficiaries has risen from around 250 participants to nearly 3,000.
The minister concluded that while the bilateral agreement provides a solid legal framework to protect Moroccan seasonal workers, effective implementation depends on stronger monitoring and continued cooperation between Moroccan and Spanish authorities to ensure rapid responses to complaints and potential violations.
During the parliamentary session, Idriss Sentissi, head of the Haraki Group in the House of Representatives, questioned whether workers receive adequate training before leaving Morocco, arguing that some travel without sufficient knowledge of their rights.
He also asked about the level of support available to them both during their employment in Spain and after returning home.
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