A new initiative backed by the European Union aims to provide comprehensive support for Moroccan workers taking seasonal jobs in Spain and France. The Wafira II program, building on a prosperous pilot project, will offer training and resources to 3,000 workers – with a particular focus on women – to ensure fair employment practices and facilitate economic opportunities both abroad and upon thier return to Morocco.The program represents a collaborative effort to address the challenges of circular migration and create a more enduring system for temporary labor between Europe and North Africa.
A new initiative aims to support 3,000 Moroccan seasonal workers employed in Spain and France, focusing on preparing them for work abroad, protecting their rights during their employment, and facilitating their economic reintegration upon their return home.
The program, known as Wafira II, represents a collaborative effort between Morocco, Spain, and France, with backing from the European Union, to reshape labor migration into a more structured, beneficial, and sustainable model. For years, seasonal work has been a significant reality for many Moroccans, offering temporary income and opportunities, but often lacking comprehensive support before, during, and after their assignments.
Wafira II seeks to address this gap by providing a regional framework for circular migration. Officials say the goal is to make mobility safer, better organized, and more advantageous for both the workers and the communities they leave and join.
“Wafira II represents a key step in structuring mobility that benefits everyone,” said Ainara Dorremochea, outlining the Spanish perspective. This approach moves beyond simply managing migration flows to focus on the individual journeys of the workers themselves, building on a long history of cooperation between Morocco and its European partners.
Building on Previous Success
The launch of Wafira II follows a pilot phase, conducted between 2021 and 2025, which supported 250 Moroccan women working seasonal jobs and aimed to increase their economic independence. That initial program established a structured support system, with attention given to pre-departure preparation and reintegration assistance.
More broadly, Wafira II is part of a series of programs that have organized seasonal mobility between Morocco, Spain, and France, particularly in the agricultural sector. While these mechanisms have helped meet labor demands and regulate recruitment, they have also revealed limitations, including inconsistent protections, limited skills development, and a lack of support for workers upon their return.
This initiative aligns with a broader shift in European migration policies, increasingly viewing legal mobility as a tool for employment and skills development. Wafira II embraces the idea that circular migration can have lasting positive effects, provided it is comprehensively planned and executed.
A Comprehensive Approach to Mobility
The expanded Wafira II program will provide support for 3,000 Moroccan workers employed seasonally in Spain and France. The program is designed as a continuum, with three core objectives: improving pre-departure preparation, enhancing the work experience in Europe, and easing the return and reintegration process in Morocco through training and entrepreneurship support.
Program organizers say that without adequate preparation, workers often lack full awareness of their rights. Without ongoing support during their employment, the experience can be limited to the income earned. And without assistance upon their return, savings and acquired skills may be lost due to a lack of opportunities. Wafira II aims to address these challenges.
Nour Elamarti, director of international cooperation and partnership at Morocco’s Ministry of Inclusion Economic, emphasized the institutional dimension of the project. “This program strengthens the institutionalization of sustainable support for Moroccan migrant workers, integrating their economic, social, and professional inclusion into coordinated mechanisms.”
The goal is to move seasonal work beyond a temporary arrangement and integrate it into public employment, training, and entrepreneurship policies, working in conjunction with the ANAPEC, Morocco’s national agency for the promotion of employment and skills development. The “Accelerator” program embodies this ambition.
Designed for 300 participants, it combines entrepreneurship training, financial management, and personalized mentoring, along with financial support for launching new businesses. The program seeks to transform a migration experience into a viable project, reducing obstacles related to funding, management, and networking.
During their time in Europe, Wafira II will also offer expanded support. In Andalusia, Spain, many participants will receive training on labor rights, leadership, mental health, financial literacy, and entrepreneurship, as well as community integration activities. France will provide similar support for its contingent of participants.
Sustainable Partnerships
Primarily funded by the European Union, the program reflects a commitment to long-term partnerships. Daniele Dotto stated, “Wafira II embodies the type of partnerships that the European Union wants to promote and support,” highlighting the positive results observed in previous initiatives.
The project’s governance structure, involving public authorities, international organizations, employment agencies, and economic actors, underscores this ambition. It aims to align political, technical, and local levels to treat labor migration as a complete process.
Ultimately, Wafira II seeks to answer a central question: how to transform temporary mobility into a sustainable advantage. How to turn seasonal travel into a springboard for economic and professional advancement. By embracing this promise, the program serves as a real-world test of a model that Morocco and its European partners are now working to solidify. The initiative could serve as a model for other regions grappling with similar migration challenges.
Why Wafira II Focuses on Women
A key strategic choice behind Wafira II is its focus on women seasonal workers. Building on the lessons of Wafira I, this orientation stems from observations on the ground. Women make up a significant portion of the Moroccan seasonal workforce in European agricultural sectors, particularly in Andalusia, yet they are often more vulnerable to precarity and isolation.
The program therefore adopts a gender-sensitive approach to circular migration, not as differential treatment, but as a response to specific vulnerabilities. Training on labor rights, mental health, leadership, financial literacy, and entrepreneurship aims to strengthen individual autonomy and empower participants within their professional and social environments.
This focus also addresses local development goals. Experience shows that the income and skills of seasonal women workers often have a direct impact on households and communities, especially in rural areas. By investing in their structured economic reintegration, Wafira II aims for a discreet but lasting multiplier effect, at the intersection of employment, equality, and territorial development.
Faiza Rhoul / Les Inspirations ÉCO
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