Seeking a New Life Amidst Challenges
Yassine, a 43-year-old man from Tangier, has spent nearly nine months in Santander, Spain, along with his wife and three children. His narrative revolves around a recurring concept: the lack of rights in Morocco. He does not cite a specific incident that led to his departure; instead, he describes a cumulative sense of discomfort and inequality that pushed him to seek a better life elsewhere. According to Yassine, Morocco has its merits, yet he feels a persistent dissatisfaction, stating, 'I don't like to live in Morocco.' This unease is rooted in the stark reality of social disparities: 'If you have, it's fine; if you don't have, it's not fine... there are no rights,' he articulates. He emphasizes that this perception has remained unchanged over time, expressing disappointment that despite his hopes for improvement, Morocco continues to be the same as it was before.
Organizations such as Human Rights Watch and Amnesty International have corroborated Yassine's feelings by highlighting the limitations on civil and social rights in Morocco, particularly concerning freedom of expression and labor conditions. These reports resonate with Yassine's personal experiences and observations, validating his decision to return to Europe, a choice bolstered by his previous years spent in Spain from 2000 to 2012. After a brief return to Morocco, Yassine realized that the reality he encountered was reminiscent of the circumstances he had initially fled, prompting him to once again seek a life in Europe for the sake of his family.
The Quest for Stability and Rights
Throughout his professional life, Yassine has held various jobs, including roles as a carpenter, parking attendant, and construction worker. Notably, he spent nine years working as a bus controller for ALSA in Tangier. However, his current employment situation is severely hampered by a lack of documentation. 'I am currently unemployed... I want to get my papers... to have my rights,' he states. In the meantime, he occasionally takes on informal work through friends, which is inconsistent and lacks legal protections. For instance, if he were to suffer an accident at work, he would have no means to claim compensation.
For Yassine, administrative regularization is pivotal for him to rebuild his life in Santander. He believes that having the necessary documentation would enable him to seek stable employment and secure dignified working conditions. He feels that without the proper permits, he is relegated to a secondary status, devoid of access to public assistance. 'I want to live like before... to work normally... to have peace of mind,' he summarizes. He directly links obtaining his 'papers' to accessing fundamental rights such as employment, housing, and family stability. While he appreciates life in Santander, he aspires to achieve the same status as those around him, not seeking superiority but equality.
Yassine's journey to Cantabria involved traversing various cities, including Tarifa, Algeciras, Madrid, and Burgos, before arriving in Santander. He enjoys the tranquility of his new environment, stating, 'It's very peaceful... I have no problems with anyone... I greet and talk to people... I live well with everyone.' His children, aged three, ten, and sixteen, have adapted well to their new surroundings and are happy at school. Yassine holds firm values regarding integration and inclusion for individuals arriving in a new place. He has learned to navigate Spanish society and emphasizes the importance of being a good person, instilling these values in his family as a means of ensuring they receive dignified treatment, although this does not always equate to the rights he seeks through regularization.
Currently, Yassine's financial situation relies on informal support and occasional assistance, such as food for his children. This reality underscores a broader issue identified by social organizations—namely, the challenges faced by individuals in irregular situations to access stable income opportunities. Contrary to common misconceptions among some citizens that migrants receive immediate aid upon arrival, data from the Ministry of Inclusion, Social Security, and Migration shows that administrative regularization is crucial for accessing the formal labor market. Organizations like CEAR (Comisión Española de Ayuda al Refugiado) and Cáritas warn that the absence of documentation leaves many in precarious conditions, forcing them to depend on informal jobs or support networks.
In this context, Yassine's goal remains clear: 'I want peace of mind... to rent an apartment like everyone else... to work normally.' His story highlights the interconnectedness of rights, regularization, and stability, not just for himself but for his family as well. Additionally, he is currently engaged in a legal process concerning his housing situation, which adds to his daily uncertainty, though he insists that his priority remains to regularize his status and attain a life that is 'very healthy... very tranquil.'
As reported by elfaradio.com.
