Speaking at a La Razón forum in Madrid on the evening of 4 December, Partido Popular (PP) president Alberto Núñez Feijóo attacked the cross-party bill currently before Congress that would grant residence to an estimated 480,000–500,000 undocumented migrants who arrived before November 2021. Feijóo claimed that “550,000 foreigners” already receive social aid without having worked and warned that blanket amnesties create an “efecto llamada” (pull factor).
The remarks sharpen the political divide over Spain’s most significant regularisation drive since 2005. The initiative—promoted by civil-society and endorsed in principle by 90 % of deputies earlier this year—would give migrants a 12-month work/residence permit linked to labour-market shortages. The centre-right PP now says it will withdraw support unless the bill ties benefits to active job search and includes a points-based visa to prioritise skilled entrants.
![Opposition leader Feijóo rejects ‘mass, unconditional’ regularisation of 550,000 migrants]()
For global-mobility teams, the debate matters because Spain’s labour-market gaps are widening: vacancies in hospitality, agriculture, logistics and elder-care have doubled since 2022. A broad regularisation could ease recruitment headaches, particularly for seasonal work and domestic care—sectors that often require rapid onboarding. Conversely, a stalemate could perpetuate shadow-economy hiring and increase compliance risks for employers.
Analysts expect the bill to reach committee stage in January 2026. HR leaders should therefore track amendments on benefit eligibility, social-security contributions and fast-track pathways from ‘arraigo’ (roots) permits to long-term residence. Companies that sponsor work permits may wish to engage industry associations (CEOE, ATA) to ensure that any quota system aligns with real skills shortages.
The remarks sharpen the political divide over Spain’s most significant regularisation drive since 2005. The initiative—promoted by civil-society and endorsed in principle by 90 % of deputies earlier this year—would give migrants a 12-month work/residence permit linked to labour-market shortages. The centre-right PP now says it will withdraw support unless the bill ties benefits to active job search and includes a points-based visa to prioritise skilled entrants.
For global-mobility teams, the debate matters because Spain’s labour-market gaps are widening: vacancies in hospitality, agriculture, logistics and elder-care have doubled since 2022. A broad regularisation could ease recruitment headaches, particularly for seasonal work and domestic care—sectors that often require rapid onboarding. Conversely, a stalemate could perpetuate shadow-economy hiring and increase compliance risks for employers.
Analysts expect the bill to reach committee stage in January 2026. HR leaders should therefore track amendments on benefit eligibility, social-security contributions and fast-track pathways from ‘arraigo’ (roots) permits to long-term residence. Companies that sponsor work permits may wish to engage industry associations (CEOE, ATA) to ensure that any quota system aligns with real skills shortages.
