45% FALL IN THE NUMBER OF IMMIGRANTS

PALMA
THE number of foreigners who have applied for work permits in the Balearic Islands has fallen by 44.99 percent so far this year, in comparison with the same period in 2007.

According to details released yesterday by the central government delegate in the region, countries which have habitually produced a high number of such applications have experienced significant downturns, often by as much as 50 percent and sometimes more.

In 2007, reports show that 13'753 people applied for residency and employment in the Islands, whilst this year, as at 26th November, the number has plummeted to 7'565. To quote some examples, Moroccans made a total of 4'256 applications last year whilst in 2008, so far to date, it stands at 2'224 - a fall of 47.74 percent. These figures are particularly significant as traditionally, the largest number of requests for employment in the Islands come from Morocco.

A similar scenario is witnessed in regard to Colombia - in 2007, 1'837 people applied for work in the Balearics whilst this year only 893 have done so, a drop of 51.39 percent.