AR+I examines housing and participation barriers for 89,000 overlooked temporary workers in tourism and

Andorra Recerca i Innovació (AR+I) is conducting its first annual study on the living and working conditions of temporary workers in Andorra, placing particular focus on housing access and barriers to their political and social participation.

Led by Joan Micó, coordinator of AR+I's Sociology Group, the project examines the roughly 89,000 temporary workers who remain uncounted in official censuses and often overlooked in routine policy discussions. In an interview with the Andorran News Agency, Micó highlighted housing as a key concern for these individuals, who play vital roles in winter tourism as well as growing areas like construction. He noted that their circumstances receive little attention in everyday life despite their expanding presence across seasons.

Results are expected in June or July. "This is the first year for the project, and we want it to become a regular initiative," Micó stated, adding that Andorra is likely to issue more permits beyond the winter period, in line with recent trends. The effort involves collaboration with a master's student from the Autonomous University of Barcelona, who is using it as their thesis, to fill data gaps and inform policies promoting better integration and social cohesion.

This season, the government has approved 4,995 winter temporary contracts, matching last year's figure, with potential for a 30% increase up to 6,994. Minister Guillem Casal, addressing reporters after a Council of Ministers session, explained that the quota reflects businesses' actual needs from the prior season. Validity periods vary by sector: hospitality and cleaning permits run until 15 June 2026, while those for ski operations expire on 3 May 2026.