Tension amid Spain's greenhouses

North African immigrants who work in the greenhouses of El Ejido live in cement rooms, without running water or electricity.

By Al Goodman
CNN MADRID BUREAU

EL EJIDO, Spain (CNN) -- Last year, the farming town of El Ejido was burning with rage. Riots erupted against African immigrants after a Spanish woman was killed and a Moroccan man was arrested.

Now, Moroccans are back to steady tilling as another crop is readied for the plastic greenhouses that cover southern Almeria province like a carpet. Growing fruits and vegetables year-round for export is a billion-dollar business here.

But many people worry about renewed violence.

"The situation is bad. What happened before in El Ejido could happen again, at any moment," said Moncef Hamza of the Moroccan Workers Association.

Immigrants say racism is the problem.

"Sure there is racism," said one Moroccan, "because people here don't like foreigners."

Many Spaniards disagree. But they do blame immigrants for rising crime rates.

"Racism? That doesn't exist here," said a farmer of 30 years. "In this town, we're all just trying to make a living."

But some clearly have it much harder. Immigrants toil long hours in the greenhouses to earn less than $25 a day.

North African immigrants say the working and living conditions in the greenhouses are harsh, even distasteful.

Many say they have no working papers. Some live in huts without electricity or running water, cooking meals or taking a break from the scorching midday heat in plain view of anyone driving by.

"A dog," said one immigrant, "lives better than this."

Experts say this is not an isolated situation. After last year's riots, promises for better housing went largely unfulfilled, adding to the tension.

Spain has a million immigrants, and tens of thousands have no working papers. Yet more workers come, especially from Africa. They sneak into Spain every night in the summer. Police can stop only so many of them.

"If there is not a slowing of this massive influx, there could be another problem, because there isn't enough work for all the people who are arriving," said Juan Canton, president of the Growers Association.

Unchecked immigration will raise tensions, Canton said.

He said there's no more racism here than anywhere else, but he admits that some racists have hurt the town's image.

Meanwhile, Africans wait by the roadsides, passing the time or hoping to get jobs when farmers drive by.

In the greenhouses, though, there is no waiting, only work -- and not much extra time to improve relations between Spaniards and immigrants.

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