Abstract

IZCARA PALACIOS, Simón Pedro. Inmigrantes marroquíes en el sector agrario andaluz. Estud. front [online]. 2005, vol.6, n.12, pp.9-38. ISSN 2395-9134.

In Andalucia (Spain), the absense of local labor willing to accept the wages and work conditions offered in the export farming sector, together with the growth of production of hand-harvested fruits and vegetables, has increased the farmer's dependence upon migrant labor, principally from Morocco. Moreover, a high level of irregular labor in the agricultural sector results from the coexistence of restrictive laws with the employer's willingness to break the law hiring cheap, flexible, non-unionized and legally defenseless labor, in order to reduce costs and increase economic benefits. At the same time, in an increasingly xenophobic atmosphere, Moroccans live in very precarious conditions which include rudimentary housing where a majority of the migrants reside in overcrowded conditions. Using qualitative methodology, this article analyzes the social situation of Moroccan migrant workers employed in agriculture in Andalucia, a region situated in the south of Spain.

Keywords : Andalucia; Moroccan farm workers; agriculture; xenophobia; living conditions.