Andorra Hotels Team Up with Government to Retain South American Workers Amid EU Entry/Exit Rules

Andorra's hotel sector is collaborating with the government to preserve access to South American workers ahead of the EU's Entry/Exit system taking effect, which will limit non-EU labour and force hotels to recruit more from EU countries.

Industry leaders acknowledge the need to fill at least some staffing gaps with community workers, but they warn that attracting talent from nearby EU nations will prove challenging. Andorra currently lacks the appeal to compete with other destinations, beyond wage considerations alone, according to Jordi Paris, president of the Hoteliers' Union.

Hotels have relied heavily on South American staff in recent seasons, and the sector is determined not to lose this resource. Paris emphasised the practical hurdles: "We would love to bring in people from EU countries, but we must recognise that Andorra's situation right now is not entirely favourable for attracting them." He advocated maintaining seasonal hiring from Latin American countries to address shortages.

The partnership with the government focuses on devising a framework to continue employing workers from the Americas, particularly for the upcoming summer season. Most establishments, Paris noted, will face deficits in experienced personnel who have built careers doing seasonal work in the Principat, making it harder to cover specialised hotel roles.

RTVA reported that the initiative reflects the sector's proactive response to the impending changes, though no specific details on the proposed system have been released.