Aliança Catalana critica que la Seu acabi acollint centenars de temporers que marxen d’Andorra
Orriols' party says the capital of Alt Urgell is bearing the consequences of Andorra's seasonal employment model
Aliança Catalana has criticised Andorra's model for hiring seasonal workers, claiming that once the country's tourism seasons come to an end, some of these workers eventually move to La Seu d'Urgell.
The Aliança Catalana branch in Terres de Lleida made its criticism public on Sunday through social media, directly blaming Andorra for a situation that, according to the party, is shifting migration pressure towards the capital of Alt Urgell.
“Andorra imports workers for its tourism seasons, and when they end, what happens? Well, a large majority are expelled towards La Seu d'Urgell. We are talking about hundreds of people,” the party said in a post published on X.
Aliança Catalana concluded its criticism with a message aimed directly at the neighbouring country: “La Seu should not have to pay for the neighbouring country's party!”
Party focuses on Andorra's seasonal worker model
Aliança Catalana's statements come at a time when Andorra is developing new ways to meet labour demand in sectors linked to tourism.
The Andorran government has launched a pilot programme in 2026 for recruitment directly from workers' countries of origin, with an initial quota of 450 seasonal workers, mainly for the hotel and restaurant sectors. Arrivals are expected to begin in December, with permits valid for a maximum of nine months.
The programme specifically establishes the temporary nature of these permits and is aimed at non-EU nationals, as citizens of the European Union and the European Economic Area have other routes to access the Andorran labour market.
Andorra importa mà d'obra per les seves campanyes turístiques i quan acaben qué està passant?
Doncs una gran majoria són expulsats cap a La Seu d'Urgell. Parlem de centenars de persones.
La Seu no ha de pagar la festa del país veí!
💙#SalvemLaSeu https://t.co/SZ6oQtd7so— Aliança Catalana - Terres de Lleida (@TerresLleida_AC) August 30, 2026
Aliança Catalana, however, is seeking to take the debate beyond recruitment itself, focusing on what happens to workers once their employment relationship with Andorra comes to an end, arguing that La Seu d'Urgell ultimately absorbs part of this movement of people.
The party's criticism comes after the departure of hundreds of foreign workers and families from Andorra has been documented in recent years.
Among the known cases, residents' associations estimated that more than 150 Argentine families had left the Principality, while Colombianos en Andorra estimated that around 130 members of its community had settled in La Seu d'Urgell after being unable to meet the requirements to continue residing in Andorra.
