The government explained yesterday that all pending Peruvian workers’ files for immigration permits have either been resolved or are in the process of being resolved, and that at this time the Immigration Service has only responded with a rejection to one of the seven applications received because the applicant does not meet the experience requirements for the job they aspire to. A rejection to which they add “temporary” because it can be resolved positively if the applicant provides proof of previous work experience. The answer comes after the president of the Peruvian People’s Association complained last Friday that they had learned of at least three cases of citizens who had been waiting for documents for months despite having a guaranteed work contract. They are part of the group that fell victim to a company that transferred them to Andorra to work in construction under the migrant system, but which subsequently lost popularity, according to the same source. They remained there awaiting the promised settlement after diplomatic authorities from Peru traveled to Andorra and met with government representatives. The president of the population group, Lorenzo Castillo, regretted that the workers were living off the help of citizens and solidarity organizations, and that they had to resubmit all the documents to the Immigration Service after the first request expired after the deadline to complete the procedure had passed. He stressed that they had been waiting for two weeks for the final response to their request. The government explained yesterday that the six preferred files were either already closed or were awaiting the final steps. In this sense, they pointed out that in fact, one of the residence and work permits had already been obtained at the end of June, another was also being validated and was waiting for the contracting company to receive it, while the remaining four cases were awaiting the completion of the medical examination procedures.
This is the latest case of alleged abuse of Peruvian workers to come to light. Last April, the association headed by Castillo denounced the case of a group of workers who arrived in the country via an intermediary company that charged them “exorbitant” plane tickets and that, once in the country, did not facilitate the promised work. The culprit opened a file that he referred to the public prosecutor’s office, and weeks later the Peruvian consul in Barcelona traveled to Andorra to see what the government was doing about it. The two delegations agreed to work together to disseminate correct information to the workers and the executive informed them of the sanctions imposed on the companies. But in order to slow down the recruitment processes that have led to some irregularities, the exodus system will end for non-EU citizens, unless the jobs they are coming to Andorra for are temporary for public administrations or companies.
The coordinator collects 40 cases of fraud and abuse.
They see from the podium that the law focuses on foreign investment, but does not appreciate its main impact, which they say is speculation. Regarding this problem, they see the focus on immigration and not speculation, which makes housing a privilege and not a right. The housing coordinator confirmed that they will monitor how the government’s draft law develops.
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