Andorran Hoteliers Welcome 250 Extra Summer Work Permits

The Andorran Hoteliers' Union (UHA) has welcomed the government's decision to expand the summer seasonal work permit quota by 250, describing it as evidence of active engagement with the sector's needs.

UHA president Jordi París expressed satisfaction with the additional residences and work authorizations for hospitality and restaurant businesses, announced by the government on Wednesday. He praised the executive's "active listening," which has addressed staffing shortages by granting more permits after the initial 500 allocated in June were quickly exhausted.

París emphasized that hotels now hope to rehire workers who had shown interest in available positions but could not join due to the quota limit. He highlighted two key factors driving demand: the growing number of establishments requiring more employees, and business owners' efforts to stabilize teams for uninterrupted service delivery. Some venues had previously been unable to open certain services to the public amid the shortages.

The expansion follows requests from companies, coordinated by Interior Minister Ester Molné, with a cap of 10 initial permits per firm to aid smaller operators. Economy, Presidency, Employment and Housing Minister Conxita Marsol, speaking after Thursday's Council of Ministers, said the measure meets legitimate tourism demands while protecting the domestic labor market—where unemployment remains near zero—and enforcing updated labor standards. Workers must leave by November, ensuring no effect on residents.

The quota takes effect upon publication in the Official Bulletin of the Principality (BOPA) on Friday.