Proyecto Urdimbre Canarias is an initiative by the government in the Canaries for the training and employment of unaccompanied migrant minors. The aim is to integrate them into local society by creating jobs and offering training. Up to the age of eighteen, the local authorities are responsible for young people who arrive on small boats without parents. Forty-six now aged 18 have been employed by the Mallorca hotel group, Meliá Hotels International, at its Hotel Paradisus Fuerteventura.
CEO Gabriel Escarrer expressed his pride on social media in being part of this initiative for promoting "coexistence, social cohesion, and inclusivity". The hotelier, who has personally met these young people, stated that this is "the best possible form of integration: offering them a job and a future full of opportunities in their new home". They will work in the kitchen and dining room, with the maintenance department, and have housekeeping and cleaning duties. They will stay at the hotel. The initiative is expected to expand in the coming months with more hires.
Response to the project from the political right in Mallorca has been supportive but with caveats. On Monday, Partido Popular spokesperson Sebastià Sagreras expressed "utmost respect" for this initiative by "a very important company". But he emphasised the Balearic Government’s commitment to prioritising unemployed residents of the Balearic Islands "so as not to exacerbate the problem of population growth".
Manuela Cañadas of Vox, who have a very hard line on immigration, said: "They are welcome if they contribute to social security. Anyone who is legally in Spain with an employment contract is welcome, if they come to work and not to commit crimes."
The Balearic Government has been doing everything it can to try and prevent migrant minors from the Canaries being sent to the Balearics under a Spanish Government scheme of distribution among the regions. A decree approved in July was for the distribution of 3,000 minors. In April this year, it was estimated there were around 5,800 in the Canaries.