The head of seasonal workers for Unió de Pagesos, Carol Aixut, recalled that the organization has been warning for years about the lack of personnel, especially at the start of the fruit campaign, and demanded exceptional permits for people already present in the territory without legalized status.
“"It was about providing a solution to the needs of farmers, but also offering opportunities to people who are already in Lleida. The announced regularization is good news, provided it is done correctly."
The president of JARC, Joan Carles Massot, described the regularization as a historical demand of the sector to guarantee the availability of labor and prevent the hiring of undocumented individuals. Meanwhile, the president of Asaja Catalunya, Pere Roqué, demanded that the process must be linked to an employment contract to ensure that those regularized contribute to social security and do not merely receive subsidies.
The Ministry of Inclusion, Social Security and Migration highlights that immigration is crucial for economic growth, as foreigners often fill positions in sectors facing labor shortages, such as agriculture, construction, and services. Politically, the Secretary General of Podem, Ione Belarra, conditioned the negotiation of the transfer of immigration competence to Catalonia upon the completion of this massive regularization.
