The Diplomat
A total of 25,767 people from 17 countries worked in Spain through circular migration programs promoted by the Collective Management of Recruitment at Origin (GECCO) program. Morocco is the main country of origin, accounting for 81 percent of these hires.
This information was released on Thursday during the conference “The Governance of Circular Migration and Socioeconomic Reintegration: What Role for the Private Sector?”, held in Huelva, Spain. Participants included the Minister of Inclusion, Social Security and Migration, Elma Saiz, and the Moroccan Minister of Economic Inclusion and Small Businesses, Younes Sekkouri.
GECCO, “one of the main drivers of Spanish migration policy and an international benchmark in circular, regular, and orderly migration,” according to the Ministry, has been operating since 2000 and allows for the planned hiring of foreign workers from their countries of origin through the collective processing of residence and work permits, with full legal and labor guarantees.
In 2025, according to Ministry data, the program reached record figures, with 25,767 participants, 25% more than the previous year, from 17 countries and employed in 21 Spanish provinces. Morocco is the main country of origin, representing 81% of hires, with a predominantly female profile, while regions like Huelva concentrate the bulk of the activity.
Furthermore, GECCO incorporates key circular migration mechanisms, such as the seasonal nature of contracts and the commitment to return, promoting safe and sustainable mobility routes and contributing to the development of both the countries of origin and destination.
During the event, Elma Saiz highlighted “the experience of cooperation on circular migration between Spain and Morocco, which has lasted for more than 25 years and constitutes a particularly valuable reference for further improvement.” For his part, Younes Sekkouri praised “the excellent cooperation between our countries,” which “confirms that circular migration can be a true engine of shared development when based on close coordination between institutions, businesses, and social actors.”