Spain and Mauritania Forge New Labor Cooperation Path
Social Security Pact to Bolster Migrant Worker Protections
Spain and Mauritania have solidified a partnership focused on enhancing social security for migrant workers. This collaboration aims to build a framework for technical and institutional exchange, ultimately strengthening social protection for individuals transitioning between the two nations.
Strengthening Social Protection
The agreement, set to be valid for an initial two-year period, will facilitate the sharing of expertise and bolster institutional capabilities. A joint action plan will also be developed. Spain has specifically offered technical assistance to Mauritania’s National Social Security Fund, focusing on its benefits department.
This initiative is particularly relevant given the significant Mauritanian population residing in Spain, estimated at around 10,000 individuals. Mauritania also serves as a key commercial ally for Spain, with hundreds of Spanish companies exporting to the North African nation and a substantial number of Mauritanian businesses trading with Spain.
Expanding Circular Migration Programs
This social security declaration complements a broader bilateral agenda, with migration being a central component. “In August 2024 we signed a memorandum of understanding with the Mauritanian government to open new roads of circular migration,” stated Elma Saiz. “Less than a year later, just a few days ago, the selection process of the first 50 Mauritan working people has already been carried out. They will be incorporated in November to the 2025-2026 agricultural campaign in the province of Huelva, within the framework of the Program of Contracting Program in Origin Gecco.”
These 50 workers will undergo prior training on their labor rights and responsibilities, provided by the International Organization for Migration (IOM) during September. This ensures that the workers are well-informed, secure, and supported throughout their journey.
“The selection of workers in their countries of origin for specific work implies that, once these works are finished, the people displaced to Spain return to their communities.”
—Elma Saiz, Minister of Inclusion, Social Security and Migrations
The Spanish government emphasizes that this approach fosters legal migration grounded in institutional cooperation, shared responsibility, and respect for human dignity. Recent reforms to the Foreigner Regulation have streamlined administrative processes for circular migration programs. Under these changes, individuals can secure discontinuous fixed contracts offering authorization for up to four years, allowing for seasonal work for a maximum of nine months annually. This system simplifies the process significantly, shifting from yearly renewals to a four-year cycle, thereby reducing administrative burdens for both employers and migrant workers.
Spain is actively collaborating with countries of origin to establish viable alternatives to irregular migration, boost economic prospects, enhance training opportunities, and safeguard the rights of all migrants. For 2025, the Collective Contracting Management Program includes participation from nations such as Argentina, Bolivia, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, Gambia, Guatemala, Honduras, India, Mauritania, Morocco, Mexico, Peru, the Dominican Republic, Senegal, Uruguay, and El Salvador.
As of early 2024, over 160,000 temporary foreign workers contributed to Spain’s agricultural sector, highlighting the importance of these managed migration programs. (Source: Spanish Ministry of Labor and Social Economy).
