Spain’s economy thrives in 2024 due to foreign workers

Inside the cavernous production plant in north-eastern Spain, among millions of legs of Spanish hams travelling down spinning hooks and conveyer belts, people from 62 different nationalities work side by side to keep the BonÀrea food company humming.

Mainly from Ukraine, Romania, Bulgaria, Morocco and Senegal. BonÀrea is extra reliant on foreign labour with 40% of its 5,000-strong workforce foreign-born, but its formula for success…