"So far, we have 672,347 jobs emerging from the underground economy," Labor Minister Jesus Caldera said May 7, the last day of applications for those eligible.

Cheap foreign labor has been a key driver behind Spain's economic prosperity, curbing inflationary pressures, fueling consumption and helping push the country's unemployment rate down to 10 percent from about 23 percent a decade ago.

Spain has implemented six amnesty programs in the past 15 years. According to the latest data from municipal records, there are about 1.4 million undocumented immigrants currently living in the country. The government expects to grant another 400,000 residence permits to children and close relatives of undocumented workers joining the amnesty.

Undocumented workers from Ecuador led the amnesty pool with more than 21 percent of total applications.

The Japan Times Weekly: May 14, 2005
(C) All rights reserved