The Argentine government has decided to grant residency papers to illegal immigrants in order to bring them into line with labor market regulations, the National Migration Directorate said on Sunday.

"Starting in March, nearly a million foreigners can obtain residency papers," it said.

Currently, illegal immigrants from Argentina's neighbors, Bolivia, Peru, Ecuador, Colombia, Venezuela, Chile, Uruguay and Paraguay will be able to live as registered workers in the country, it added.

The official processing would be simple and "done in the municipalities where the illegals are living," it said.

Unions, churches and non-government organizations which deal with the immigrants will work with the authorities in the endeavor.

Source: Xinhua