After a selection process conducted last year, at least 400 people are part of the first group of Guatemalans traveling to Spain in 2025 for temporary work under the Labor Mobility Program. These are the requirements for other opportunities.
Between February 10 and March 5, four groups, totaling 190 people, left for Spain.
And, four more are planned to travel, on March 11, 16, 19 and 20 , with around 183 people, according to information from the Ministry of Labor (Mintrab).
187 women and 199 men are expected to participate, it was added.
Applying for positions and connecting with contracting companies has been done within the framework of the Labor Mobility Program, which is being promoted in the country as part of the orderly or circular migration plans.
Within the general information about the process, the Ministry of Labor responded that the estimated salary is 53 euros per day (approximately Q443 per day), with a workday of 6.5 hours per day, with 6 work days and one day of rest per week (which would represent 39 hours of work per week).
The activities they will be required to carry out are the harvesting of berries in the Huelva region of Spain. The contract duration averages approximately six months , but it can be shorter or shorter depending on production conditions and weather conditions, and can range from three to nine months, the institution added.
In the selection process, employers relied not only on the candidate’s experience but also on physical build, since this was a necessary consideration given the type of work. The selection process was also limited to candidates between 21 and 45 years of age and those with experience in a rural setting.
Among the travel conditions it is mentioned that the employer pays for the outward ticket and the worker pays for his return ticket , in addition the employer will provide equipped accommodation.
Regarding academic qualifications, a driver’s license, and proficiency in a language other than Spanish are not required, according to the entity in the general information list for the process.
Regarding preparation and training, the Ministry of Labor explains that workers are provided with pre-trip training , where they are informed about their labor rights, working conditions, and type of contract. They are also informed about the type of work they were hired for (it is not actually job training), and they are also informed about the type of payment and temporality.
In addition, provide the company you are applying to with basic information about your trip, including contract type, weekly hours, housing, transportation, and emergency numbers.
Which departments are they from?
The people in the process of temporary work in Spain come from 150 municipalities located in different departments of the country.
For example, the process was initiated by 500 people, of whom 70 came from Izabal, 51 from Chimaltenango, 40 from Sololá, 39 from Santa Rosa, 36 from Totonicapán, 27 from Zacapa, 25 from Guatemala, and also people from the remaining departments.
Requirements and processes
The process consists of three steps: According to the Ministry of Labor’s website, the calls for applications will be published through the Tu Empleo website and through other media outlets.
The phases are:
- Recruitment
- Selection
- Visa
If selected, the applicant must attend an interview and attach the following documents, according to the Ministry of Labor’s website:
- Program registration form
- Photocopy of the DPI, which must be legible
- Birth certificate certification
- Marriage or common-law union certificate
- Birth certificate of child
- Photocopy of degree or diploma
- Certificates of criminal and police records
- Certification of processed files issued by the Public Prosecutor’s Office
- National Registry of Sexual Offenders Certificate (RENAS)
- Certificate of roots
- Two letters of recommendation
The selection process for temporary work in Spain consisted of in-person interviews on October 21 and 22, 2024.
In addition to Spain, there are bilateral agreements for the temporary worker program with the United States, Mexico, Costa Rica, and Belize. Guatemalan workers have also traveled to Canada.
During 2024, through the Program, 3,945 beneficiaries traveled to various countries to work temporarily; however, the number decreased by 555 people compared to the 4,500 registered in 2023. By 2025, the Ministry of Labor expects to recover the number of travelers to the figure from two years ago.
The majority of workers, 3,704, traveled to the United States, 230 to Canada, and 11 to Italy.
Labor Link GT 