WELDI baseline report

Albacete (ES)
173,000 inhabitants
Local coordinator: Social worker at social inclusion team
Breaking exploitation and marginality of migrant workers
Albacete is strategically located
in one of Europe’s most dynamic
agricultural production zones, and
hosts many seasonal migrant workers
who follow the harvest seasons
across the Iberian Peninsula. The
city tries to meet the specific needs
of migrant workers and families,
some of which live in informal settlements
- through social work and a
strong cooperation with civil society
organisations.
Still, many migrant workers arrive in
Albacete to informal meeting points
where mafias address them in terms
of accommodation, work and other
services against money.
This exploitative parallel system
seriously undermines the efforts of
the city hall and keeps migrant workers
at the margins of local society.
In order to break this system, the
city of Albacete wants to increase its
capacity in providing housing solutions
and better reach the migrants
through outreach and support.
Preliminary focus of the integrated action plan
▷ Planning of a housing resource
for seasonal workers, and other
newcomers that might need it,
where the inclusion team will
have their offices and provide
services. This resource would
become a One-stop-shop and a
reference for migrants, to tackle
exploitative parallel services
provided by informal actors.
▷ Facilitate information for newcomers
on their rights and services
that are available to them and
work on One-stop-shops to make
the process easier.
▷ Take measures to increase leverage
of existing housing stock for
social purposes (e.g. through rent
intermediation schemes / social
rental agencies).
▷ Work with the employment
department and NGOs to improve
the situation of seasonal
workers and break the exploitative
middlemen structures (e.g.
through certification of bona fide
employers).
▷ Training on migrant rights to
municipal workers that provide
mainstream citizens services.
Partner profiles 16