Controversy in Huelva : Moroccan seasonal workers face deportation and rights violations
Two recent cases in Huelva, Spain, have sparked strong criticism over the working conditions of seasonal Moroccan female workers, who form the backbone of the region's strawberry-picking industry. The first case involves the deportation of a 47-year-old worker diagnosed with cervical cancer, while others, including a woman five months pregnant, were left without contracts or legal documentation for weeks.
One worker was diagnosed with advanced cancer while in Spain and, despite receiving treatment at Huelva Hospital, was not allowed to continue her care before being deported to Morocco, according to the Association of Migrant Women.
Meanwhile, the Strawberry Producers Association claims the worker requested to return home after being informed that her treatment was futile, though human rights activists emphasize she had access to free medical care and medication.
In the second case, a group of workers brought to an agricultural company in the Cartaya area in April were left without signed contracts, pay slips, or legal residency documents. They remained without actual work for over a month, violating the GECCO program's requirement that 85% of scheduled hours must be guaranteed. Among them was a woman five months pregnant, left without income, documentation, or medical coverage.
Thanks to the intervention of the CCOO union, the company eventually signed contracts and issued pay and documents, enabling the workers to return to Morocco legally. The union also demanded that the workers be rehired by another company next season to prevent any retaliation.
This year, around 17,000 Moroccan women are participating in Huelva's berry-picking season, out of approximately 40,000 seasonal workers brought in through the GECCO system, which is seen as a model for organized legal migration. However, the CCOO warns that cases like these risk tarnishing the reputation of the entire sector, stating, «These violations harm committed producers and threaten the image of the entire industry».
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Controversy in Huelva : Moroccan seasonal workers face deportation and rights violations
Two recent cases in Huelva, Spain, have sparked strong criticism over the working conditions of seasonal Moroccan female workers, who form the backbone of the region's strawberry-picking industry. The first case involves the deportation of a 47-year-old worker diagnosed with cervical cancer, while others, including a woman five months pregnant, were left without contracts or legal documentation for weeks. One worker was diagnosed with advanced cancer while in Spain and, despite receiving treatment at Huelva Hospital, was not allowed to continue her care before being deported to Morocco, according to the Association of Migrant Women. Meanwhile, the Strawberry Producers Association claims the worker requested to return home after being informed that her treatment was futile, though human rights activists emphasize she had access to free medical care and medication. In the second case, a group of workers brought to an agricultural company in the Cartaya area in April were left without signed contracts, pay slips, or legal residency documents. They remained without actual work for over a month, violating the GECCO program's requirement that 85% of scheduled hours must be guaranteed. Among them was a woman five months pregnant, left without income, documentation, or medical coverage. Thanks to the intervention of the CCOO union, the company eventually signed contracts and issued pay and documents, enabling the workers to return to Morocco legally. The union also demanded that the workers be rehired by another company next season to prevent any retaliation. This year, around 17,000 Moroccan women are participating in Huelva's berry-picking season, out of approximately 40,000 seasonal workers brought in through the GECCO system, which is seen as a model for organized legal migration. However, the CCOO warns that cases like these risk tarnishing the reputation of the entire sector, stating, «These violations harm committed producers and threaten the image of the entire industry».
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