Teaching Union Demands Full Contracts for Andorran Educational Collaborators

The Public Teaching Union (SEP) has urged the Ministry of Public Function to hire all educational collaborators for full 40-hour weekly contracts. If not, the administration should cover the shortfall needed to ensure these workers qualify for health coverage from the Andorrana Social Security Fund (CASS).

Many of these so-called teaching assistants currently receive contracts for just 30 hours a week, pushing their pay below the minimum threshold for automatic social security benefits. As a result, they must pay CASS contributions out of pocket. The SEP argues that their salaries are also inadequate given their responsibilities, especially when compared to similar roles in other public sectors. These issues are deterring candidates at a time when Andorran education regulations mandate such support staff in certain school levels across the Principality's three coexisting systems—Spanish, Catalan, and French.

Challenges are particularly acute in French-system schools, where hours are even lower. Collaborators there are hired proportionally to the reduced time, often making social coverage unaffordable without personal expense. SEP sources noted that union discussions on the matter have dragged on for months, with contract terms alone discouraging applicants. "That's where the difficulty in finding staff comes from," they said.

A recent pay policy agreement has brought some improvements, but the union believes it falls short. The Ministry of Public Function has yet to respond. Meanwhile, the Ministry of Education has launched a review of the role itself, acknowledging its necessity while recognising that it is poorly defined and regulated. Officials aim to redesign the position—including duties and contracts—to address these ongoing problems.