Andorra Restaurants Face 30-50% Staff Loss as Winter Workers Depart Next Week

Winter temporary workers in Andorra's hospitality sector must leave the Principat next Monday as their residence and work permits tied to the winter quota expire, leaving many restaurants short-staffed until summer replacements arrive. Most establishments contacted expect to lose 30% to 50% of their workforce in the coming week, a pattern repeated over the past two or three years.

The summer quota of 500 authorizations—450 for temporary immigration and 50 for cross-border workers—was approved by the Council of Ministers on Wednesday. These permits, aimed exclusively at hotels and restaurants, run until 1 November 2026, with applications accepted until 15 September 2026. Salaries have been updated to reflect inflation, as in the previous general quota approved in April.

Restaurant La Borda Pairal 1630, currently with 15 staff, will lose half next week, forcing occasional closures. Full staffing might return around Sant Joan, assuming no delays in paperwork. Director Basco Rodríguez of La Màfia chain, also facing a 50% reduction, called for better deadline management, warning of added stress on remaining employees.

At Refugi Alpí, nearly 40% of staff—about 10 workers—will depart, with director Javier López expecting a hectic period despite gradual summer hires. He urged improved quota organization. Informal restaurant loses seven waiters and three cooks, half its team; director Mario Machado plans to manage with tighter operations and supports a single winter-summer quota, as previewed in the origin contracting project.

Art i Pa bakeries will mix summer temporaries with locals to minimize impact, though director Vania da Silva regrets constant retraining and rotation. She noted satisfaction with some departing workers, saying they would receive year-round contracts if possible.

Pizzeria Primavera seeks general quota workers, while UDON faces just one departure from 16 staff, prioritizing stable hires. Sport Hotel Hermitage & Spa in Soldeu, with eight restaurants, has struggled since mid-April's ski season end, when 90% of workers left, closing two of three hotels. Summer quota appeal draws limited interest, as mountain sports lag behind beach tourism.

Fears of missing out triggered long queues at Immigration Friday morning after Thursday's decree publication, reaching nearly to the Gall roundabout. The general quota exhausted fully, with no new openings until autumn except 150 advances for strategic sectors like teaching, health, and caregiving.