**Spain to Grant Residency and Work Permits to 300,000 Migrants**

Spain is set to offer residency and work permits to around 300,000 migrants currently residing in the country without legal status, according to an announcement from the nation's migration minister on Wednesday. This policy, slated to commence next May, is part of an initiative to augment Spain's aging workforce.

Migration Minister Elma Saiz revealed that Spain requires about 250,000 registered foreign workers annually to sustain its welfare system. Saiz emphasized that this legalization strategy is not merely about cultural enrichment or human rights, but also about economic prosperity. "Today, we can say Spain is a better country," she stated during an interview with Radio Nacional de España.

Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez has frequently advocated for his government's migration policies, highlighting their role in addressing Spain's low birthrate. In a related move, Sánchez visited three West African countries in August to address irregular migration flows to the Canary Islands.

Approved by Spain's leftist minority coalition government, the new policy simplifies administrative processes for both short-term and long-term visas while enhancing labor protections for migrants. This includes extending a previously available three-month job-seeker visa to one year.

By mid-November, around 54,000 migrants had reached Spain by sea or land in 2023, as reported by the Interior Ministry. Although the exact number of undocumented migrants in Spain remains unknown, many find employment in low-wage jobs within the underground economy. These roles, often shunned by Spanish nationals, include fruit picking, caregiving, and delivery driving. Without legal protections, these migrants are susceptible to exploitation and abuse.

Saiz remarked that the new policy aims to combat such abuse and tackle issues like mafias, fraud, and rights violations. Spain's robust economic growth—one of the fastest in the European Union this year—has been partly driven by immigration and a significant recovery in the tourism sector post-pandemic. The government stated that Spain issued 1.3 million visas to foreigners in 2023.