LLEIDA, Spain (Reuters) - Like many African immigrants seeking fruit-picking jobs in Spain, Europe's largest fruit and vegetable exporter, Ibrahim Ndoye had to sleep rough on the streets of Lleida for 10 days this month as nobody would rent him a room.
The 42-year-old Senegalese acknowledges that restrictions over the coronavirus and fears of the disease may have undermined the northeastern town's hospitality while stoking demand for seasonal jobs, but he largely blames racism.
Local councillor for civil rights Sandra Castrol said Lleida saw a huge early inflow of seasonal job seekers this year, before the campaign starts in earnest in July, after many lost jobs in the tourism sector or as street vendors as a result of the pandemic. The local hotel federation denied the accusation, citing hotel closures due to the coronavirus, repairs and administrative issues.
After about two weeks, municipal authorities and the hotel federation helped arrange a two-week hotel stay paid for by Balde, while another 120 people are staying in a municipal pavilion. The situation is not confined to the city of 139,000 where around 25,000 migrants come for the season, or the northeast.
United States Latest News, United States Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Brazil sees return of soccer at empty Maracana stadiumRIO DE JANEIRO (Reuters) - Brazilian football resumed after a three-month hiatus on Thursday night, with Flamengo beating Bangu 3-0 at an empty Maracana stadium in the first game of the restarted Rio de Janeiro state championship.
Read more »
In Spain, the white lion cub whose mum didn’t want him | Malay MailGUILLENA (Spain), June 18 — His name is White King, he’s 10 days old and the zoo says he’s a real “teddy bear”. But the lioness who bore him rejected him after a traumatic birth. Born on May 31, the cub is the first white lion born in a Spanish zoo. Curled up in the arms of Juan Luis...
Read more »
Online bookmaker Betway ends betting on soccer transfersLONDON (Reuters) - Online bookmaker Betway said on Wednesday it had ended bets on soccer player transfers in all its territories and hoped the rest of the industry would do the same.
Read more »
UK minister apologises for misnaming soccer star Rashford, citing Harry Potter confusionLONDON (Reuters) - Health minister Matt Hancock apologised on Wednesday to England soccer player Marcus Rashford for getting his name wrong, suggesting that confusion with the star of the Harry Potter films was behind the slip-up.
Read more »
Online bookmaker Betway ends betting on soccer transfersLONDON (Reuters) - Online bookmaker Betway said on Wednesday it had ended bets on soccer player transfers in all its territories and hoped the rest of the industry would do the same.
Read more »