Spanish farmers and truckers face wage pressures and foreign competition

Spanish farmers face a labour cost of 90 euros per day compared to just 8 euros in Morocco, a gap that Andrés Góngora, an agriculturist and COAG official, says makes competition impossible Source: elespanol. Meanwhile, a new honey labelling law requiring country-of-origin percentages aims to protect domestic beekeepers from misleading blends Source: infobae.

Agricultural wage struggles

Paco, a veteran farmer in La Salada, reports earning "around 7 euros per hour," barely above the minimum wage, as sandía prices have crashed to 5 cents per unit, causing "total losses" Source: abces. The owner Pascual criticises European regulations that he says impose strict safety standards on Spanish produce while allowing cheaper imports from countries without similar rules Source: abces. Moroccan tomato imports have surged over 50% in early 2025, intensifying pressure Source: elespanol.

Honey transparency law

Starting June 14, honey sold in Spain must list each origin country and its percentage. Ángel Marco, president of the Guadalajara Beekeepers Association, calls it a "reasonable" step after 20 years of lobbying, but stresses the need for consumer education to appreciate quality over price Source: infobae.

Transport sector conditions

In contrast, long-distance trucker Diego reports salaries of 3,000 euros per month for international routes, though autonomous drivers face high costs for fuel and maintenance Source: elespanol. The sector suffers from an aging workforce, with over half of drivers over 55.