E/CN.4/2001/83 page 20 around 70 per cent of all foreign workers. According to the information received, the working day in the greenhouses is 10 hours long. In some cases, the workers sleep in the greenhouses or outbuildings and work as watchmen, so that their working day is 24 hours long. Inside the greenhouses, the workers have to endure temperatures as high as 45º C, relative humidity of about 90 per cent and pesticide-filled air. The widespread use of pesticides in the plastic-covered greenhouses means that the workers breathe all day long without any security measures to lessen their adverse effects on health. Although the source has not received studies on the long-term effects of such exposure to toxic substances, it reports that effects such as irritations and respiratory and eye problems have already occurred. The Special Rapporteur also referred to the incidents which took place in El Ejido from 5 to 7 February 2000. She requested the Spanish Government to send her information on the measures taken to improve the working, living and health conditions of documented and undocumented migrants. In the case of undocumented migrants, the Special Rapporteur informed the Government that the lack of protection against exploitation seemed to be absolute, since their situation prevented them from filing any kind of complaint. 84. In a letter dated 24 November 2000, the Spanish Government sent the Special Rapporteur information on the situation of migrants in El Ejido. The Government made the reports of the government delegation in Andalusia and of the Ministries of the Interior, Labour and Social Affairs and Foreign Affairs available to the Special Rapporteur. With regard to the February 2000 incidents, the government reports that it has installed 42 housing units, each suitable for eight people. Ten others equipped with kitchens have also been installed for use in the areas where the housing units are located. The units can accommodate 336 persons. With the cooperation of the Spanish Red Cross, the government subdelegation in Almería has drawn up a list of about 200 complaints filed by immigrants and Spaniards who suffered loss or injury. The Spanish Red Cross conducted a loss assessment survey and evaluated the damage. The Government reports that 13,858,864 pesetas ($79,400) had been spent as at 10 March 2000. As for the regularization of the status of immigrants, the Government reports that information and research centres were opened on 21 March 2000. Regarding security, it says that it has maintained a police and Guardia Civil presence. In order to make progress on action to find solutions to the problems involved in work by immigrants, the Government states that offers have been made to hire 100 people in Huelva, in two groups of 50 each. The Government informed the Special Rapporteur that it would transmit information on the progress made in the investigations as soon as possible. Dominican Republic 85. The Special Rapporteur sent the Government of the Dominican Republic a communication on 14 November 2000 about the situation of migrant workers from Haiti working in the sugar cane fields in the Dominican Republic. According to the information received, approximately 500,000 live and work in the Dominican Republic in particularly difficult living and working conditions. It is reported that the majority work and live in the sugar cane fields, where essential services to ensure minimum standards of hygiene and habitability are apparently non-existent. The source reports that workers are exposed to excessively long working days for which they do not receive fair wages. The Special Rapporteur also received