In a meeting held by the Commission for Social Sectors in the House of Representatives Mohamed Yatim spoke about the Huelva Gate. Before promising to better the working conditions of Moroccan strawberry pickers in Spain, he downplayed complaints filed against farm-owners. Weeks after he categorically denied on several occasions the veracity of the alleged sexual abuses witnessed by Moroccan women in Huelva's strawberry fields, Minister of Employment and Vocational Training Mohamed Yatim referred to «few aggression cases». Attending Tuesday, 19th of June, a meeting held by the Commission for Social Sectors in the House of Representatives, the minister told media that «only 12 Moroccan women working in Huelva have been subjected to attempted harassment», stressing that «these are just isolated cases that include other foreign seasonal workers from different countries». Isolated cases Yatim said he held a meeting with the Spanish ambassador to Morocco, Monday 18th of June, in Rabat. He also praised the efficiency of the Spanish authorities and judicial system. «In Spain, and in case these alleged aggression cases are real, justice will be done», he told reporters before insisting that «farm-owners in Huelva fear for their reputation». Moreover, the minister explained that complaints filed by Moroccan strawberry pickers may refer to «right or wrong» facts. He also spoke about a «petition launched by 140 Moroccan strawberry pickers who denounced the accounts of their colleagues, indicating that they have not been sexually assaulted». The justice and Development Party minister acknowledged that media «reports are taken into consideration» and that the ministry in charge is keeping an eye on the developments of the file in Spain. In a communiqué issued by the ministry Tuesday and relayed by MAP press agency, Mohamed Yatim explained that out of the 800 women the Spanish authorities have spoken to, only 12 said they have been subjected to attempted sexual harassment. 7 individuals were arrested, four of them are Moroccan and three are Spanish, says the same source. The same statement indicated that the ministry is planning to set new regulations and ways of protecting Moroccan women in Huelva's fields and better their working conditions. Monitoring the program Contacted Tuesday by yabiladi, Federation of the Diplomatic Left part (FGD) MP Mustapha Chennaoui said that «several MPs and parliamentary groups have taken part in today's meeting». They have «warned the ministry against the working conditions of Moroccan farm workers in Spain, pointing at the sending program that has several problems and must be monitored by the authorities». «MPs hailed the mobilization of Spanish trade unions and associations, which denounced the suffering of Moroccan women, including the ones that reported alleged sexual assaults». «The minister keeps denying the veracity of the alleged sexual abuses, downplaying the cases. The minister said that the case has been overly exposed and that all conditions meet the commitments of the Spanish authorities». Mustapha Chennaoui For Chennaoui, «the minister has promised to train these women before sending them», adding these «are just promises». The parliamentary deputy also recalls that the Commission for social sectors asked for the creation of a parliamentary mission to «review the conditions the steps carried out by ANAPEC and assist the sending of Moroccan women to Spain».
