MADRID, June 15 (Reuters) - Spain's government has received around 900,000 applications from undocumented migrants seeking legal status under a programme that initially expected half a million requests, the Migration Ministry said on Monday.
The measure, aimed in part at integrating undocumented migrants into the formal labour market, is seeing strong demand in a country that has remained open to immigration even as other European nations close their borders.
Non-profit refugee aid organisation CEAR expects applications to exceed one million by the time the programme ends in two weeks.
Spain's economic growth has far outpaced most European peers in the past two years, partly driven by migrants who have boosted key sectors such as hospitality and elderly care by plugging labour shortages and increasing social security contributions.
Spain has granted 360,000 temporary work permits since April, representing about 40% of all requests received, the ministry added. People are allowed to begin working as soon as their applications are admitted for processing.
The measure, aimed in part at integrating undocumented migrants into the formal labour market, is seeing strong demand in a country that has remained open to immigration even as other European nations close their borders.
Non-profit refugee aid organisation CEAR expects applications to exceed one million by the time the programme ends in two weeks.
Spain's economic growth has far outpaced most European peers in the past two years, partly driven by migrants who have boosted key sectors such as hospitality and elderly care by plugging labour shortages and increasing social security contributions.
Spain has granted 360,000 temporary work permits since April, representing about 40% of all requests received, the ministry added. People are allowed to begin working as soon as their applications are admitted for processing.
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