A Senegalese migrant worker at the edge of the Donana forest. A day worker come to harvest strawberries, that I had met earlier in El Ejido in 2006 (looking for work in the greenhouses).A migrant workers' camp, made up of makeshift shelters, in a wood, near the strawberry fields.Destruction by the municipal police of makeshift shelters, built by the migrants near the strawberry fields where they work or look for work. It is the 5th time they have destroyed them.A Senegalese worker come from Almeria to harvest strawberries. The photo was taken during the destruction (for the 5th time) by the municipal police of the shelters. The structures were built by the migrant workers in a forest near the greenhouses.Some migrant Senegalese workers (come for the strawberry harvest) rebuild their shelter after the departure of the municipal police who had come to destroy it. After the destruction of their shelters, a new site. Isolated, at the edge of a wood and facing the strawberry fields, as requested by the police who don't want them to reassemble. "Be discrete, we don't want this to look like a village."After the destruction of their shelters, a new site. Isolated, at the edge of a wood and facing the strawberry fields, as requested by the police who don't want them to reassemble. "Be discrete, we don't want this to look like a village."After the destruction of their shelters, a new site. Isolated, at the edge of a wood and facing the strawberry fields, as requested by the police who don't want them to reassemble. "Be discrete, we don't want this to look like a village."An abandoned car the the police have turned on its side with the aid of a backhoe in order to drive out its occupant.The cutting of firewood by the migrant workers who live near the strawberry greenhouses.Some migrant Senegalese workers here since the beginning of the strawberry harvest, which follows the olive harvest. They suffer from the cold and damp.Day laborers, employed periodically in the greenhouses, destitute, no money, fish to feed themselves and to supplement the rations given to them by the Red Cross and Caritas.A Senegalese migrant worker carries wood and water back to his camp bordering on the strawberry greenhouses. The water, brought from a neighbouring farm, is often carried in containers that previously held chemical spray.One of three camps (alojamentos) of migrant workers on the edge of the village. Tolerated by the municipality, the camps are destroyed only outside of the harvest seasons for strawberries, peaches and oranges.A young Moroccan migrant, in Spain for some time. He is looking for work in the orange groves, prefering this harvest to that of strawberries.A Moroccan labourer returning from work enters his chabolas (a makeshift shelter made of salvaged material) surrounded by greenhouses.A Moroccan migrant worker in his chabolas (a makeshift shelter contructed of salvaged material), after a day of work in the surrounding greenhouses.Souvenir photos of a Moroccan labourer, the occupant of a chabolas (a makeshift shelter constructed in the midst of the greenhouses of salvaged material). The damage on one of the photos is from a gas explosion.Some Moroccan labourers are housed with permission of their employer in a cortijo (an unused farm shed) facing the strawberry fields where they work.A meal at three o'clock, after work. A migrant worker living with the permission of his employer in a cortijo (an unused farm shed).A cortijo (an unused farm building on loan from the employer) shared by the migrants and facing the strawberry fields where they work.A makeshift bathroom in a "cortijo" (an unused farm building, loaned or rented to the migrants).A makeshift dining room in a "cortijo" (an unused farm building, loaned or rented to the migrants.A migrant Moroccan says his prayers at the door of his cortijo (an unused farm building loaned by the employer) facing the strawberry fields where he works.A Moroccan worker who obtained his papers during the great wave of regularization in 2005, comes from northern Spain especially for the strawberry harvest. He poses in the door of his cotijo (an unused farm building loaned by his employer). The fate of regularized workers is no better than that of undocumented migrants, because of competition with them and also with those coming under CEN contracts (Contrato en origen). He works most of the time without a contract and is paid under collective agreements.Mauritanian workers butchering a sheep. An activity theydevote themselves to during the slack periods without work. It is more economical for them to buy the whole beast.Malian immigrants prepare meals near the patera hangar where they live. Patera, named after the makeshift boats on which immigrants arrive in Spain.Evicted by the police, these Malian immigrants now live outside the building, near the greenhouses. This migrant drinks water from a container that contained herbicides.A Senegalese worker who has come to harvest apples and pears, prepares tea on his return from the fields. Interior of the patera shed. Patera, named after the makeshift boats on which immigrants arrive in Spain.Interior of the patera shed (named after the makeshift boats on which African immigrants arrive in Spain) where immigrants working in greenhouses stay.Evicted by the police, this Malian immigrant now lives outside of the building near the greenhouses.A Moroccan worker, in his apartment which overlooks the labor exchange meeting place, apartment he shares with other immigrants.Two Colombian workers in the prefabricated housing they use, in front of the sorting cooperative.Lunch break. A Colombian who came from her country with a CEN (Contrato en origen), like around 1500 others. The contract states that they must pay half of the plane ticket.A Colombian worker who came with a CEN (Contrato en origen) to the peach sorting plant. In high season, the working day can last more than 14 hours, at € 4.55 an hour, minus 10% to pay for accommodation. Her contract says she has to pay half her plane ticket.A Colombian woman spends her break in a prefab in front of the packaging plant. These Colombians came from their country with a CEN (Contrato en origen), like around 1,500 others. In high season, the working day can last more than 14 hours, at € 4.55 an hour, minus 10% to pay for accommodation.Colombians in a prefab in front of the packaging plant. These Colombians came from their country with a CEN (Contrato en origen), like 1500 others. The contract states that they must pay half of their plane ticket. The contract supposed to discourage staying in Spain, but some still remain.Time out for the Colombian workers who came with a CEN (Contrato en origen), in the middle of the prefabs where they are housed, right against the packaging plant. In high season, the working day can last more than 14 hours, at € 4.55 an hour, minus 10% to pay for accommodation. During slack periods they can go several days without working and without being paid.Talking on her cell phone, a Colombian woman who came with a CEN (Contrato en origen). She leans against the prefab in which she is housed, very close to the sorting plant, her workplace.The arrival of a group of migrant farm labourers for the apple, pear and peach harvests. Lerida, with its 700,000 tonnes of fruit (in 2007), leads Spanish production in almost every variety. But it is more and more difficult for them to get hired, because as a result of the economic crisis Spanish workers are given first priority.Migrants come for the fruit harvest. They sleep in the streets while waiting to find employment and housing. For many of them, it is a new situation, they say they have never experienced this in their country.Nigerian migrants sleeping in the historic district. There is a shortage of housing. Many of them say that they have never slept outside in their country and suffer from this situation of "homelessness".A migrant worker sleeps outside between two daily jobs.A Moroccan worker come to harvest olives at the office of the Red Cross.A Malian worker at the Huelva hospital for suspected malaria. In fact, it will only be a fever due to the cold suffered in his camp in the forest.Souvenir photos of a Malian day laborer, occupying the "cortijo", a small farm shed surrounded by greenhouses, rented to several workers for € 300 per month, without hot water.In front of the Red Cross in Baena. A farmer looking for workers for his olive groves negotiates his terms with two Algerian day laborers.A truck from the Casi agricultural cooperative picks up a Malian day worker.A Casi agricultural cooperative poster: "Tomatoes are eaten more and more all over Europe." On a van belonging to a plastics company. "The coastal plain of Almeria, called 'Eldorado', earns 500 million dollars per year from the production of fruits and vegetables. 15,000 loaded caravans head north each month."Exchange of false documents in the place to find daily work. A legal document might serve for 30 people, so we end up with 30 workers supposedly named Adama from the same village. These solutions are often proposed by the farmers themselves.A Spanish farmer with two young Malian daily workers.Peach harvest. On his wrist, the gauge used to check the size of the fruit.Peach harvest by Malian and Moroccan workers. The wage in the fields is on average 5.35 € per hour.Harvesting of olives using a machine and poles by Romanian workers who came on a CEN (Contrato en Origen) contract.In an olive grove, two Romanian farm workers came on a CEN (Contrato en Origen) contract.In an olive grove, a Spanish farm worker. There are fewer and fewer Spanish day laborers because of the low wages. They used to travel across the country. Now it is the immigrants who have taken over.Harvesting olives using a machine and poles by Spanish workers and a Moroccan.During the break, every time, the Spanish workers and the Moroccan do not eat together. There are fewer and fewer Spanish day laborers because of the low wages. They used to travel across the country. Now it is the immigrants who have taken over.During the break, every time, the Spanish workers and the Moroccan do not eat together. There are fewer and fewer Spanish day laborers because of the low wages. They used to travel across the country. Now it is the immigrants who have taken over.Harvests carried out by Spanish, Portuguese and Moroccan farm workers. There is less and less work in the region for day laborers, as the machine is said to take the place of 80 people and works even at night.Preparation of a herbicide by a Malian worker. His employer, angry to see me take such a photo, pulls me away. He will explain to me later that the trainer should normally have received training for this, and especially wear full protective clothing. Work accidents are numerous, but without insurance.A Malian day laborer prepares for spraying pesticide. A migrant worker who came especially for the strawberry season. 95% of Spain's strawberry production takes place in Huelva.A Malian day laborer and a Romanian worker who came with a CEN (Contrato en origen) contract to harvest strawberries in the greenhouses. The salary is about 35 € per day, for 6 and a half hours of work.Harvesting strawberries. 95% of Spain's strawberry production takes place in Huelva. The salary is about 35 € per day, for 6 and a half hours of work.A Moroccan worker who came with a CEN (Contrato en origen) contract to harvest the strawberries in the greenhouses. These female farm workers are likely to return the following year if there is no conflict with their employer. Many NGOs speak of modern slavery.A Romanian worker who has come with a CEN (Contrato en origen) contract to harvest strawberries in the greenhouses. 95% of Spain's strawberry production takes place in Huelva. The salary is about 35 € per day, for 6 and a half hours of work. She must also pay for half of the transport, the other half is generally the responsibility of the farmer.A problem of understanding between the operator and his employee. Discussion about the papers.Preparation of a chemical product. A cortijo (abandoned farm shed, rented or loaned to immigrant workers) in the background.Spraying a pesticide on the zucchini plants. This Malian worker took 3 years to enter Europe. He went to Libya, then to Cyprus, where he spent a year in prison.A Senegalese worker and his employer harvest watermelons.Interior of the cooperative. Auction of the watermelon crop. The day before this farmer had refused to sell because the prices offered were too low and didn't allow him to cover his expenses.Calculating the salary of this employee who harvested watermelons for the farmer in the afternoon. A working day is usually paid around € 30, while collective agreements have been signed at € 37.2.A Guinean worker sends money to the family back home. Many have been in Spain for years and have not told their families about their living conditions.A Senegalese migrant met in El Ejido in 2006 (near the vegetable greenhouses), who is returning from work in the orange groves.Inside a patera shed (named after the makeshift boats on which African immigrants arrive in Spain) where immigrants working in greenhouses stay. A mobile phone allows them to stay in touch and keep informed about the places and dates of possible work. It is also for them a symbol of new wealth.Time off for workers near their patera shed (patera from the name of the makeshift boats on which immigrants arrive in Spain).Card game to keep morale up. These workers did not find a taker today. At the start of the season, unfortunately, they are more of a filler, mostly hired on weekends and holidays. They are part of what one might call the workers of a reserve army, adjusting for peak production.Two Moroccan workers study Spanish after work, near the chabolas (a makeshift shelter built in the middle of the greenhouses with salvaged materials).A Moroccan worker in his chabolas (a makeshift shelter built in the middle of greenhouses with salvaged materials), after his day's work.Workers from an Eastern European country with a CEN (Contrato en origen) contract. Without means of transportation, bringing their purchases back to their cortijo (small farm shed) is a challenge, it being 10 kilometers away. This is a real problem after a hard day's work.Polish women, who came with a CEN (Contrato en origen) contract, get some sun after work. Without means of transportation (it is about ten kilometers to the beach and the city), they stay in front of their cortijo (the shed rented from their employer) near the greenhouses, their workplace.Malian laborers, after work, in accommodation made available to them free of charge by the farmer. A piece of luck for them because very often housing is not provided or if it is the rent is withheld from their wages. These amount to € 5.35 per hour.In a canteen, set up by the city council and volunteers, for workers, some of whom are on CEN (Contrato en origen) contracts.Football TV match in a café, a rare place where social mixture can be observed between locals and migrant workers.A Senegalese migrant worker attends a bullfight. Places of social mixture are practically non-existent in Spain.Town hall square, a couple waiting for an appointment with their lawyer in order to obtain the regularization of their situation in Spain. El Ejido is a symbolic city (Eldorado) whose population has increased tenfold to 50,000 in 20 years, taking full advantage of intensive agriculture which brings the region 500 million dollars per year.Migrants in a locutorio: place to phone or connect to the Internet. An essential place for immigrants to maintain the link with the family back home. Some have been gone for 10 years or more and have wives and children in the home country.The gazolina, a place known to all, between Palos and Mazagon. Near a locutorio (the place to use the phone). The Guardia Civil is vigilant because illegal taxis tempt Moroccan women who have come through CEN, offering them high-paid work in Madrid if they pay for transport. In fact, if they accept, they will be abandoned in the capital where they will become illegal immigrants.The gazolina, a place known to all, between Palos and Mazagon. There is nothing to do outside of working hours. Alcohol is a significant problem.Day laborers. There is nothing to do outside of working hours. Alcohol is a significant problem.A bar in the middle of the strawberry fields where workers meet.A bar in the middle of the strawberry fields where workers meet.A young man in front of the entrance to one of the brothels which are often "cortijos" (small abandoned agricultural sheds, loaned or rented to immigrant workers), in the middle of greenhouses.A group in front of the entrance to one of the brothels which are often "cortijos" (small abandoned farm sheds, loaned or rented to immigrant workers), in the middle of greenhouses.A scene in one of the brothels which are often "cortijos" (small abandoned agricultural sheds, loaned or rented to immigrant workers), in the middle of greenhouses.Interior of a room in one of the brothels which are often "cortijos" (small abandoned farm sheds, loaned or rented to immigrant workers), in the middle of greenhouses.Racist graffiti: "ARABS NO, RUSSIANS YES". In 2000, El Ejido became infamous following the anti-Moroccan riots of February 5, 6 and 7. Many analysts believe that racism goes hand in hand with intensive farming. It allows the labor market to be divided.Province of Almeria, 2006. Wednesday November 29. Blockade of the central avenue of the village by farmers, following checks in the greenhouses that very morning. Those who employed undocumented migrants were fined heavily. They explain to the Guardia Civil that it is the beginning of the high season and the harvests absolutely could not be done without the thousands of immigrant day laborers.Province of Almeria, 2006. Wednesday November 29. Following checks in the greenhouses in the morning, which generated heavy fines for farmers employing undocumented migrants, the afternoon's demonstration ends in front of the village town hall, where the mayor is sympathetic. It is indeed the beginning of the high season and the harvests could absolutely not be done without the thousands of immigrant laborers.This SOC trade unionist (Sindicato de obreros del campo: Union of agricultural workers), makes appointments for these immigrant workers with the police foreign registry to settle their residence situations: granting of the residence permit.Demonstration organized in Almeria by the SOC (Sindicato de obreros del campo: Union of agricultural workers) and other organizations. It was noticed by very few of what is said to be 80,000 migrant workers. Trade unionists find it very difficult to mobilize them, because workers are more occupied with daily survival than with defending their rights.A volunteer serves meals provided in a cafeteria for migrant workers. The olive harvest in Andalusia is the preferred campaign of migrant workers because it is here that they are most welcomed.The city organizes Spanish lessons after the meal at the cafeteria. These two boys confess that they are still minors. The olive harvest in Andalusia is the preferred campaign of migrant workers because it is here that they are most welcomed.In the office of the Red Cross, a Cameroonian who described his experience on French television after he had just crossed the barriers in Melilla."It paid off this time." In the office of the Red Cross, a Cameroonian who described his experience on French television when he had just crossed the barriers in Melilla.A Cameroonian immigrant worker organizes his file to get regularization. Trilingual, helped by the villagers of Baena and the Red Cross, he is in the process of obtaining his papers.Near Baena, the front door of a house. "Agriculture is the wise man's proper profession, the most suited to simplicity and the most worthy occupation for any free man" Cicero.A Moroccan worker who came to harvest strawberries and whom I met later in northern Spain for the fruit harvest (apples, pears, peaches).In an olive grove, a Romanian farm worker who has come on a CEN (Contrato en Origen) contract.A Moroccan worker who came on a CEN (Contrato en origen) contract to harvest strawberries in the greenhouses. 95% of Spain's strawberry production takes place in Huelva.A worker "in quarantine" in the office of the Red Cross because he has tuberculosis. Seen a few months later in Lérida for the fruit harvest.A Moroccan worker who came on a CEN (Contrato en origen) contract to harvest the strawberries in the greenhouses. 95% of Spain's strawberry production takes place in Huelva.A Romanian worker came on a CEN (Contrato en origen) contract to harvest strawberries in the greenhouses. 95% of Spain's strawberry production takes place in Huelva.Evicted by the police, this Malian immigrant now lives outside of his building near the greenhouses.
