Andorra’s retailers call for quota changes to retain seasonal staff as permanent employees

Andorra’s retail sector has asked the government for more flexibility in the timing of seasonal and general immigration quotas so businesses can retain some seasonal workers as permanent employees. 

The Minister of the Presidency, Economy, Employment and Housing, Conxita Marsol, outlined the request on Thursday following a meeting of the Economic and Social Council (CES).

Retailers believe the current system creates a mismatch, as using the seasonal quota makes it harder for them to subsequently access the general quota to retain those employees. They are therefore proposing changes to the timing of both quotas to help businesses better align recruitment with their staffing needs.

Marsol clarified that the sector is not asking for the general quota to remain permanently open, but for less overlap between the two quotas for a period of time. The aim is to help businesses keep the workers they want to retain.

Government seeks to balance business demand with limits on growth

Immigration quotas were among the issues discussed at the CES’s first meeting after its July and August break. The subject is expected to receive specific attention at the next session.

The minister acknowledged that the government must strike a balance between businesses’ demand for workers and its objective of curbing growth.

Meanwhile, Gerard Cadena, president of the Andorran Business Confederation (CEA), warned that recruitment difficulties affect several sectors at a time of strong economic growth. In retail, he said, the shortage of suitable workers is adding to business costs alongside rising wages.

Cadena argued that staffing needs should be anticipated and proposed processing the quotas planned for the coming months in advance. The employers’ organisation will continue working with the relevant ministries and sectors to find an approach that meets those needs.

Construction faces shortages across several trades

For construction, the CEA has not proposed a specific number of workers. Cadena explained that recruitment difficulties also affect plumbers, electricians, transport workers and other professionals needed to complete projects on schedule.

Requirements vary according to each company’s specialisation, workload and projects. According to the CEA president, this diversity makes it difficult to establish a single quota or an overall figure that would meet the needs of all construction-related activities.

The CEA supports a system that allows businesses to fill vacancies when necessary while ensuring recruitment is properly planned.

Earlier paperwork for workers from third countries

The employers’ organisation has also proposed starting recruitment procedures in workers’ countries of origin earlier to reduce delays associated with French and Spanish checks on workers from third countries.

The proposal would involve beginning the process before workers arrive in Andorra, allowing their documents to be reviewed in advance by the Andorran authorities and subsequently by the relevant bodies in neighbouring countries. The aim is to prevent border procedures from delaying the arrival of staff whom businesses have already hired.

Cadena said the objective would be to reduce this period to between one week and fifteen days, although he stressed that the final timeframe would also depend on the procedures Spain and France must complete.