Moroccan Workers in Spanish Enclaves Left in Limbo as Border Reopening Uncertain

There would be more than 8,600 Moroccan workers waiting to regain their jobs following the announcement of the reopening of land borders. They were hoping for strong signals from Pedro Sanchez’s visit to Morocco.

Unfortunately, during his media outing, the President of the Spanish Government did not mention their case, nor did he set a precise date for the reopening of the border crossing points with Ceuta and Melilla. Sanchez only mentioned the acceleration of the process for the preparations of the Marhaba 2022 operation, which has been suspended for two years.

Worried, Chakib Marouane, secretary general of the workers holding work permits in the city of Ceuta, quoted by Al3omk, explained that Sanchez’s speech focused on the gradual opening of the Ceuta and Melilla crossing points, without revealing the method or the timing of the opening. This has raised doubts among the workers of the two cities, who were optimistic about the end of the crisis file between the two countries.

He stressed the need for Morocco to raise their situation with the Spanish authorities, insisting on the granting of a work permit to the legal workers.