WORKING CONDITIONS OF MIGRANT WORKERS IN THE AGRICULTURAL SECTOR OF ALMERÍA AND MURCIA: BETWEEN INVISIBILITY AND PRECARIOUSNESS

Abstract

This Bachelor's Thesis analyzes the working and living conditions of immigrant workers in the intensive agricultural sector of southeastern Spain, particularly in Almería and Murcia. Through a study of the international, European, and Spanish legal frameworks, as well as academic and journalistic sources and direct testimonies, it examines how situations of job insecurity and social exclusion persist despite the existence of legal protection mechanisms.

The work addresses issues such as informal employment, long working hours, low wages, lack of safety measures, poor housing conditions, and difficulties accessing healthcare and social integration. Furthermore, it analyzes the impact of structural factors such as the agricultural sector's dependence on cheap migrant labor, subcontracting chains, and the limitations of labor inspection mechanisms.

Finally, the research concludes that the precariousness of migrant workers is not an isolated phenomenon, but rather a structural consequence of the intensive agro-export model and labor market segmentation, with a significant gap existing between legally recognized rights and their effective application in practice.