MADRID, Jan. 28 -- Spain left-wing government on Tuesday approved a plan to regularise roughly 500,000 undocumented migrants by decree, marking a notable departure from stricter migration policies seen elsewhere in Europe.

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Migration Minister Elma Saiz said the initiative would allow beneficiaries to work "in any sector, in any part of the country," highlighting the "positive impact" of migration on the economy and society. She added that the government aims to strengthen a migration model rooted in human rights, integration, coexistence, and compatibility with economic growth and social cohesion.

The measure targets migrants who have lived in Spain for at leas...