Institutionalized Trafficking and the Gendered Governance of Seasonal Migration in Spanish Agriculture

Author: Molina-Fernández, Marta & Molinero-Gerbeau, Yoan

Abstract: Institutionalized trafficking is introduced in this article as a new conceptual category that expands the definition of human trafficking and broadens its analytical perspective for examining how trafficking-related dynamics may operate within formally regulated systems. Through a case study of Moroccan female seasonal workers in Spain, the study analyzes 41 legal texts (1985–2026) alongside empirical literature, examining the Temporary Migration Program (GECCO) through the Palermo Protocol’s framework of action, means, and purpose. The analysis identifies structural parallels between the selection, transfer, and reception of workers and trafficking-related practices carried out through coercion, dependency, and abuse of power for purposes of exploitation. Findings suggest that GECCO represents a paradigmatic case of institutionalized trafficking, with potential relevance for other temporary migration programs and institutional contexts.

Keywords: human trafficking, institutionalized trafficking, labor exploitation, Moroccan women seasonal workers, temporary migration programs