42 Young Migrants Backed by the Canary Islands Government Enter the Workforce

“These initiatives allow young people to access stable employment, receive training and develop, thereby strengthening our community.”

A group of 42 migrant minors under the guardianship of the Government of the Canary Islands has entered the labor market in Fuerteventura thanks to the “Urdimbre: Challenges Toward Employment” program, promoted by the Vice‑Council of Social Welfare and the General Directorate for Child and Family Protection of the Canary Government.

The regional council announced the figures during the signing of a collaboration agreement between the Vice‑Council of Social Welfare and the MHI group (Meliá Hotels International). The pact has enabled the hiring of almost half a hundred young people who now work in kitchen, dining, cleaning and maintenance areas at the hotel group’s facilities on the island of Fuerteventura.

Recently, floor‑waiters have been added to the staff and will receive specific training from the company. All employees also receive accommodation in the hotels.

Francisco Candil, Vice‑Councilor for Social Welfare, explained:

“The program’s goal is to support and accompany the transition to adulthood of migrant minors without family references who have been under the guardianship of the Canary Government, promoting their training and employability. To achieve this, we are signing collaboration agreements with various Canary business sectors.”

He added:

“This not only offers these individuals a chance to access employment once they reach adulthood, but also helps meet the demand for labor in key professional sectors of our economy, such as services and tourism, by providing companies with trained people who have the appropriate professional qualifications.”

Nuria Cabrera, Councillor for Employment Promotion of the Island Council of Fuerteventura, highlighted the relevance of programs like Urdimbre: Challenges Toward Employment for the labor integration of youths under guardianship.

“These initiatives allow young people to access stable jobs, receive training and develop, thereby strengthening our community and showing how collaboration between institutions and companies generates a positive impact.”

Lucas Torán, General Manager of Paradisus & Innside Hotels Fuerteventura, stated:

“At Meliá we firmly believe in tourism’s transformative power as a tool for social cohesion, and this agreement with the Council to facilitate the labor integration of youths under guardianship demonstrates how the hotel sector can be a real platform for inclusion and sustainable development.”

“The renovation of Paradisus Fuerteventura is, for us, a clear reflection of our commitment to responsible tourism, which not only enhances the quality of the tourist experience but also actively contributes to the well‑being and development of our local environment, generating employment, training and a lasting positive impact.”

Through this agreement, the Meliá group commits to promoting the employability of participants in the Urdimbre: Challenges Toward Employment program by covering vacancies in its hotels that match the candidates’ skills and training.

The pact with MHI adds to the series of agreements the Canary Executive, through the Vice‑Council of Social Welfare, is signing with various companies and entities to boost professional training for migrant minors and youths under guardianship, fostering their qualification and promoting their socio‑labor inclusion.