From the arid, scrub-dotted landscape of southern Spain, a stark white expanse emerges, stretching nearly 30 kilometres along the coast. This is the ‘sea of plastic’—the Almeria greenhouses that serve as the orchard of Europe. Visible from space, these 35,000 hectares of intensive agriculture produce up to 3.5 million tonnes of fruit and vegetables annually. However, the Almeria greenhouses migrant labour system underpinning this bounty faces severe criticism. immigration fraud network charging migrants for fake papers.
Beneath the plastic sheeting lies a grim reality for the nearly 100,000 workers who keep this economic engine running. According to a new report, roughly 30% of this workforce comprises immigrants in an irregular situation. Consequently, many endure severe labour exploitation, extreme heat, and squalid housing conditions.
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Home » Almeria Greenhouses: Exploitation and Migrant Labour in Europe’s ‘Sea of Plastic’
The Cost of Cheap Vegetables: Almeria Greenhouses Migrant Labour
For the thousands of labourers in the region, largely concentrated around El Ejido and Níjar, the promise of Europe has turned into a daily struggle for survival. Wages in the sector reportedly range between €4.50 and €6.00 per hour—well below legal standards. Meanwhile, workers face precarious employment without contracts.
Mohamed Yarie, who arrived in Spain by boat from Guinea Conakry leaving behind a wife and four children, describes the reality of the daily grind. He travels over 20 kilometres a day on a scooter to reach pick-up points where farmers select day labourers. ‘I’m better off than in my country,’ says another worker, Abdellatife, noting that he can earn €50 in a day here compared to €20 in Morocco. However, stability remains elusive; Mohamed worked only seven days last month, earning less than €300.
“It is the other slavery. They live from the need to support themselves and their family… It’s the hook of the five euros. A trap.”Seve Lázaro, Jesuit worker in Almeria
Health Risks and Housing Crises for Workers
Conditions inside the Almeria greenhouses can be physically punishing. During the summer months, temperatures inside the plastic structures turn them into ovens, sometimes reaching 50°C. Therefore, NGOs operating in the area report that workers are often exposed to pesticides without adequate protective gear. They rely on simple surgical masks or nothing at all.
Outside of work, the situation is equally dire. A severe housing shortage has led to the growth of shanty settlements. It is estimated that around 7,000 people live in these makeshift camps across Almeria, often built from pallets and waste plastic. ‘Níjar is collapsed,’ explains Juan Miralles of the NGO Cepaim. ‘The market offers nothing because the workers can’t pay for it.’
Systemic Failures in Regulation
Efforts to regulate the industry are hampered by a lack of resources. A report cited by the researcher Blanca Garcés Mascareñas suggests there are only eight or nine labour inspectors for thousands of companies in the region. Furthermore, workers allege that farmers are often tipped off before inspections occur via WhatsApp groups. This allows them to hide undocumented staff or end shifts early.
Despite the hardships, many workers feel trapped by the necessity to send money home. Seve Lázaro, a Jesuit working in the zone, describes this as the ‘gaze of the goat’—unable to look up from the ground, in contrast to the ‘gaze of the camel’ which looks to the horizon. ‘With these exploitative working conditions, what can you dream of?’ Lázaro asks. ‘What price do you pay? That of ruining your life.’
There is a glimmer of hope on the horizon. The Spanish government recently announced a potential extraordinary regularisation process for undocumented migrants. While details remain scarce, local organisations are cautiously optimistic. It could bring legal relief to tens of thousands of essential workers in Europe’s garden.
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