As reported by Spanish Minister of Labor Celestino Corbacho, to receive compensation, immigrants must meet a number of conditions, including refraining from traveling to Spain for the next three years. In addition, reports Lenta.ru, program participants must be residents of a country with which Spain has a cooperation agreement in the field of social security.<\/p>
According to the bill, which is set to come into force in November 2008, illegal immigrants who agree to voluntary deportation will receive 40% of the compensation amount in Spain, and the remaining 60% upon returning to their homeland.<\/p>
As noted by the France Presse agency, Spain has signed bilateral social security agreements with 19 countries, including Ecuador and Morocco, from which a significant number of illegal immigrants arrive in Spain. According to government estimates, the new law will help the country get rid of 100,000 illegal immigrants.<\/p>