Between 1,700 and 1,800 seasonal workers arrived in Andorra without employment contracts last season

One in three seasonal workers arrived in Andorra without a confirmed employment contract during the previous season. According to a study conducted by Andorra Research + Innovation (AR+I), between 1,700 and 1,800 seasonal workers travelled to the Principality hoping to find employment without having previously secured a contract with a company.

The report, covered by RTVA, examines working conditions, access to housing, savings capacity and the future expectations of seasonal employees who come to Andorra to meet the country's demand for temporary labour.

According to the survey, 67% of seasonal workers had already arranged an employment contract before arriving in Andorra, a situation that respondents said made administrative procedures easier.

Among those arriving without a contract, some reported having contacts in the country, while others hoped to find employment opportunities after reaching the Principality.

76% of seasonal workers want to stay in Andorra or return in the future

One of the study's main findings concerns the willingness of seasonal workers to maintain a connection with Andorra beyond their initial employment period.

A total of 76% of respondents expressed their intention to remain in Andorra or return in the future, while 12% planned to leave for another destination without coming back.

Only 1% of those surveyed intended to leave the country before the end of the season.

These figures suggest that, for many seasonal employees, working in Andorra is not necessarily viewed as a one-off experience, but rather as an opportunity to return for future seasons or potentially establish themselves in the country.

The findings also highlight the importance of seasonal employment within Andorra's labour market and its role in attracting foreign workers.

Overtime and shared accommodation to increase savings

The study also examines the financial circumstances of seasonal workers and the strategies they use to save money during their stay.

According to the results, two out of three respondents managed to save money during the previous year, although some employees needed to work longer hours or take on overtime to increase their income.

Access to affordable accommodation remains another major challenge.

The survey identifies cases of overcrowded housing, where several workers share accommodation to reduce living expenses.

These conditions can affect workers' quality of life and influence their ability to save money while employed in the Principality.

The combination of housing costs and working hours therefore plays an important role in determining the financial benefits of seasonal employment in Andorra.

Argentinos en Andorra identifies housing costs as the main problem

The association Argentinos en Andorra considers the high cost of housing one of the main causes of the social difficulties faced by seasonal workers.

Its president, Marcelo Ponce, acknowledged concerns about overcrowded accommodation and the need for employees to work overtime, but said that an increasing number of companies are improving working and housing conditions.

Ponce pointed to the upcoming winter season as an example of this progress.

According to the association, up to 5,000 seasonal workers could arrive in Andorra for the winter season, with approximately half already having accommodation arranged.

The organisation has also offered to contribute additional information to AR+I's research in order to provide a broader understanding of the circumstances faced by seasonal employees.

Among its proposals are encouraging recruitment directly from workers' countries of origin, creating more opportunities for young residents to fill positions traditionally occupied by seasonal employees, and opening a wider debate about Andorra's actual labour requirements.

Up to 470 non-EU nationals faced difficulties travelling to Andorra

The association has also provided information about non-EU nationals who encountered administrative or legal difficulties while attempting to travel to Andorra.

According to Argentinos en Andorra, a total of 470 people experienced problems at some stage of their migration journey.

The issue had previously generated disagreements in the General Council between the Social Democratic Party (PS) and Minister of Justice and Interior Ester Molné.

Of those affected, 110 encountered difficulties at the Andorran border, while the remaining individuals faced legal or documentation-related obstacles at airports in neighbouring countries.

The association explained that many of those affected were forced to return to Argentina to correct their documentation before attempting the journey again.

In some cases, this meant having to cover the additional costs of international flights and administrative procedures.

The figures highlight the challenges faced by foreign workers seeking seasonal employment in Andorra, particularly regarding immigration requirements, housing availability and access to the labour market.

As the Principality prepares for another winter tourism season, the findings raise broader questions about the sustainability of its seasonal employment model and the conditions offered to incoming workers.