Andorra Labour Inspectorate Hits Record 143 Sanctions in 2025 on Safety Violations

Andorra's Labour Inspectorate issued a record 143 sanctions in 2025 despite fewer workplace inspections, driven mainly by a sharp rise in safety and health violations.

The inspectorate conducted 441 checks last year, down from 659 in 2024, including 178 initial inspections compared to 162 the previous year. From these, it launched 143 sanction proceedings—the highest since 2022, up 57% from 91 in 2024, 73 in 2023, and 89 in 2022. Of these, 88 involved safety and health breaches, nearly double the 48 recorded in 2024 and well above the roughly 30 annual average in 2022 and 2023. The other 55 proceedings addressed general labour condition shortcomings.

Most initial inspections arose from complaints, with 78 prompted by workers or third parties, 53 tied to workplace accidents, and 47 conducted on the inspectorate's own initiative. These figures closely matched 2024's breakdown of 85 complaints, 53 accidents, and 46 proactive checks.

Construction led with 57 proceedings, including 12 safety cases and 45 general labour issues. Hospitality followed with 28, comprising nine safety-related and 19 others. Retail recorded 17, industry seven, and other services 34. The inspectorate also fielded 13,910 queries, with 10,178 by phone and 3,732 in person.

Statistics Department figures, published Thursday, highlight the safety violation surge amid reduced overall inspections.

Separately, the Tourism and Commerce Ministry intensified tourist accommodation and housing oversight, completing 1,794 actions. Tourist homes accounted for 1,648 checks—91.86% of the total—under a drive against illegal activity and implementation of the new tourism law. Sanctions dropped 56.41% from 2023 to 17 cases (0.95% of checks), slightly down from 19 in 2024, indicating improved compliance. Administrative processes for tourist home registrations, cancellations, or modifications reached 301, or 85.03% of tourism files, up from 251 the year before; traditional lodging like hotels saw 53 procedures and 146 inspections, down from 77 and 189.

Commerce checks rose 59.88% from 2023, or nearly 24% from 209 in 2024, to 259, generating 30 sanction files at an 11.58% rate—roughly triple the nine from 2024. Focus areas covered 24-hour outlet operations, tobacco minimum pricing, and business standards. Consumer services handled 1,656 complaints, steady from 1,707 the prior year and lower than 2023 highs, with local cases at seven (down from nine) and foreign at 18 (from 24).

The ministry conducted 25 bilateral diplomatic meetings: seven in Andorra and 18 overseas. Additional initiatives included preparing the general tourism law for parliament, starting a national tourist carrying capacity study, progressing the Gastronomic Strategic Plan, and organising the 13th World Congress on Snow, Mountain, and Wellness Tourism.