Andorra la Vella Council Agrees Early Retirement for 50 Employees from Age 60

The Sitca trade union has announced that around 50 Andorra la Vella town council employees could access voluntary early retirement over the next five years under a new agreement reached with the local authority.

Sitca president Cristian Asensio said the deal, finalized after nearly 10 months of talks, allows access from age 60 with a benefit equivalent to 60% of salary, subject to maximum and minimum caps. The initiative fulfills a union demand dating back to 2007, initially raised under councillor Rosa Ferrer and pursued through later administrations led by Jordi Minguillón, Conxita Marsol, and David Astrié.

Funding will come from an annual allocation of 0.5% to 1.5% of the total wage mass. Using 2025 personnel spending of €20.2 million as a benchmark, this equates to between €101,000 and €303,000, though the exact amount will vary yearly based on budgets and wage totals. Asensio stressed the measure's design for longevity, noting it is structured to withstand potential changes by future councils without straining finances.

The union presented two initial proposals in May 2025—one at age 58 and another at 60—but accepted adjustments for sustainability. Asensio described the outcome as a balanced compromise that both sides made concessions to achieve. He anticipates it will enable generational renewal, with some vacancies filled by internal redeployments, others eliminated, and new hires possible where needed.

Around 70 members endorsed the plan at a Monday assembly, with early staff interest reported. The council will vote on approval tomorrow, after which it will appear in the Butlletí Oficial del Principat d’Andorra (BOPA) and take effect soon. Applications are expected from August through mid-September, depending on the publication date.

Asensio called the first months critical for gauging uptake and potential refinements, while praising the council's collaborative atmosphere and the shift from no options to a structured pathway for workers.