There are very many Spaniards residing illegally in Morocco. Today, the number of those working illegally in the country is estimated at several thousand.
The figures are given by the newspaper Al Ahdath Al Maghribia which is based on a Spanish program broadcast last Monday. More than 5,000 Spaniards work illegally in Morocco. Jobs range from construction to Spanish-speaking call centers to catering and hotels.
According to the newspaper, the economic crisis that the country experienced in 2008 pushed thousands of people to seek work abroad, particularly in Morocco. According to official figures published by the Moroccan government, more than 3,000 Spaniards came to work legally in Morocco just after the crisis.
Not knowing Arabic or French, Spanish workers prefer the north of the country, particularly the regions of Tangier and Tetouan, to settle there. Sometimes they still choose Nador or Al Hoceima, cities where Spanish is spoken very fluently and where their integration is easier.
Report from France broadcast in June 2013 on Spanish workers in Morocco:
