Rabat – The Spanish parliament on Wednesday discussed a suggestion made by Podemos Party to improve the working conditions of Ceuta and Melilla’s ‘human mules’, reported newspaper Ceutaldia.
The Spanish newspaper said that Podemos [‘We Can’] had suggested the law to guarantee the dignity and rights of so-called ‘mules’, especially Moroccan women, who travel back and forth carrying goods on their backs weighing up to 90kg, between Morocco and the autonomous cities of Melilla and Ceuta.
Ione Belarra, spokeswoman for Spanish political party Podemos [‘We Can’] stated it was “absolutely essential” that measures be taken to curb the “human exploitation” of the thousands of ‘mule women’. In this announcement, Belarra said the party called for “a system of permanent healthcare” for the ‘mule women’ at the border.
In June, Spanish authorities made a pact with the Moroccan government to prevent men and women from passing through Ceuta’s El Tajaral II crossing on the same day. Consequently, women will be allowed to cross the border on Mondays and Wednesdays, while men will be permitted on Tuesdays and Thursdays.
The decision was taken after Moroccan authorities asked Ceuta’s government to help decrease pedestrian traffic at the border, reported local news Ceuta Actualidad.
Spanish authorities registered two deaths of Moroccan mule women and numerous injuries caused by overcrowding since the gate of Tarbajal II was opened in late February.
A mule woman was last week hit by a motorcycle driven by a Spanish policewoman in front of Tarbajal II gate.
