BARCELONA, Spain (AP) 鈥 The Spanish government will grant one-year residency and work permits to potentially 25,000 foreigners affected by the catastrophic flash floods that hit the eastern part of the country last October.
The extraordinary measure, approved by the Spanish cabinet on Tuesday, is aimed at facilitating paperwork for those living irregularly in the dozens of towns affected by the floods, mainly in the region of Valencia.
It is part of the government's recovery and reconstruction plan after the that killed 227 people and destroyed countless homes and businesses. The news was first reported by Spanish daily El Pa铆s and confirmed by the Ministry of Inclusion, Social Security and Migration to The Associated Press.
Chaos that ensued after flooding caused by left many immigrants unable to abide by the requirements for living, studying and working in Spain legally, according to the ministry. Similarly, many employers have been unable to comply with the bureaucracy required to hire foreign workers.
The new one-year permits will be given due to the 鈥渦nexpected exceptional circumstances,鈥 but can be denied if there are concerns over public order, security or health, according to the ministry.
Additionally, foreigners who lost relatives in the floods will be given five-year residency.
While governments across Europe are taking tougher stances against migration, Spain has been swimming against the current and hailing migrant workers' contributions as a key factor in its economic growth and job creation last year.
Foreigners currently represent some 15,9% of the country's registered active population, though many more work in the underground economy, picking fruits, cleaning homes or caring for the elderly. Facing a declining birth rate, Spain's government has said it needs more migrants working legally and contributing to its social security and pensions.
While Spain has closed several to to its territory, it is passing measures of immigrants already living in the country without permission. The majority of those fly into Spain legally from Latin America and overstay their visas.
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