The Spanish government has been rather unfairly criticised for introducing a paperwork amnesty for 500,000 people who are are living illegally in Spain. The usual “Stop the Boats Brigade” have rounded on Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez who is instigating what they have call an “immigrant invasion”. This is not the case. These people are already in Spain, living and working illegally.
Many are probably being exploited because they do not have paperwork so the government has decided to make them legal as long as they do not have a criminal record. Yes, the official figures will show a big jump in the number of foreigners living in Spain but who cares.
Spain is desperately short of workers, Spanish businesses cannot get the staff. The government has turned to non-Spaniards and millions are now working and paying their taxes in Spain.
Sanchez has rather bucked the European trend and rather than trying to prevent immigrant workers coming to Spain he has done the exact opposite, as long as they are legal. The difference is clear for all to see. The Spanish economy continues to go from strength to strength while the rest of Europe is struggling. Perhaps Sanchez is right and the rest of them are wrong.