Ecuador, Andorra Discuss Circular Migration Programs

Ecuador and the Principality of Andorra are exploring avenues to establish circular migration programs. The goal is to create regular, orderly, and secure pathways for Ecuadorians to work in the European nation, according to Ecuador's Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Human Mobility.

Vice Minister of Human Mobility, Saúl Pacurucu, initiated the dialogue with Andorran authorities to advance this project. This meeting marks a new phase of bilateral cooperation in human mobility, building on agreements from the V Ibero-American Forum on Migration and Development held in Huelva, Spain.

These programs are presented by the Ecuadorian government as a safer alternative to irregular migration. Between 2023 and early 2024, more than 10,600 Ecuadorians found employment abroad through circular migration initiatives. These opportunities allow them to work legally in various countries before returning to Ecuador.

Destinations for these workers have included Israel, with 6,000 agricultural positions, Spain, offering 1,666 jobs in agriculture and as lifeguards, France, with 1,200 'Work and Holiday' visas, and the United States, which provided 704 positions in agriculture and services.