Spanish Court Reopens Case of Exploited Moroccan Farmworkers During Ramadan

The investigating judge at the court of appeal has decided to reopen the case of the strawberry field workers, and to listen to their grievances about their exploitation by Spanish employers. This decision comes at a time when a Spanish report is highlighting the inhumane working conditions of the workers, often forced to break their fast due to the long working hours.

According to the daily Al Massae, a complaint has been filed by these women, accusing their employer of sexual harassment and exploitation on a farm in the Huelva region in the south of the country. Three other seasonal workers have also reported their suffering during the endless hours of work, which are twice as long as provided for in their contract, forcing them to break their fast as a result.

The daily adds that the Spanish field owners exploit the women, and in particular the illiterate ones, who do not have the capacity to claim their rights, and demand that they be married, in order to be forced to visit their spouses and children in Morocco and to have to return to the fields.

It should be recalled that last week, the Moroccan embassy in Spain organized a collective iftar for the Moroccan seasonal workers, and assured them of the Moroccan government’s support during the fruit picking season, through a special support program, concludes the daily.