Andorra Seasonal Workers Expose Widespread Labor Abuses in Winter Tourism

Seasonal workers in Andorra's winter tourism sector have taken to social media to expose widespread labour abuses, including verbal aggression, psychological pressure, veiled threats, xenophobic remarks, and uncompensated long hours. Many describe a pervasive culture of fear that discourages complaints, driven by the risk of losing jobs, residency permits, or housing.

The complaints, shared primarily by temporary workers from Argentina, Colombia, and Peru, have surged this season, breaking years of silence. Posts detail humiliation, offensive comments, constant tension, and peer harassment in businesses, often met with institutional inaction. "If it happens to you, you're not alone," reads one message echoed across hundreds of accounts. Workers report exhaustion, isolation, helplessness, and mental health strain, with some, like Sebastián, returning home after enduring mistreatment that severely impacted their well-being.

A common thread is the gap between promised opportunities and reality. Employees recount shifts exceeding 10 hours daily without overtime pay, rude treatment, and broken promises. "You work more than 10 hours, they speak badly to you, you can't complain or they fire you," one worker lamented. Fear of reprisal stifles reporting, with criticism aimed at the government for insufficient labour inspections, safe complaint channels, and support. Some accuse immigrant associations, such as the Argentine group, of silence that enables the issues.

In the services sector, particularly waitstaff, net monthly wages range from €1,400 to €1,500 for six-day weeks, offset by shared accommodation costing up to €500. Extra hours often go unpaid, and conditions lag behind those in France or Switzerland, critics say.

Debate reveals divisions: newer migrants face worsened tensions amid rising arrivals, while some blame exploitative foreign supervisors with legal status over Andorrans. A Chilean poster noted, "The problem isn't Andorrans. It's some foreigners with papers who harm other foreigners." Veterans of over five seasons describe this winter as harsher and more exploitative. Though some highlight respectful employers as exceptions, the chorus demands change, warning that the sector would collapse without these workers' 72-hour arrivals.

The outpouring has resonated strongly, challenging norms and amplifying calls for respect, though a minority rejects broad generalizations.