Andorra Unions Slam 72-Hour Shifts and Wage Dodging in Health Sector

**Andorra la Vella** – Partit Socialdemòcrata (PS) and Unió Sindical d’Andorra (USdA) representatives have sharply criticised labour conditions in Andorra, citing weekly shifts reaching 72 hours in health and social services, alongside firms dodging minimum wage increases by blending base pay with overtime, bonuses and other non-qualifying elements.

The concerns surfaced at a joint press conference where PS executive Carla Guinot and USdA treasurer Joan Torra reviewed a European Committee of Social Rights report, which flagged non-conformity in six of seven areas: working time limits, health and safety protections, remote work rules, a 26% gender pay gap, union rights and related matters. Guinot described the assessment as an opportunity to fix longstanding issues, pressing the government to act decisively rather than delay. Torra labelled it a straightforward failure for the executive, noting that USdA – Andorra's sole private-sector union – struggles without adequate resources for training or bargaining.

Guinot outlined proposals across four key areas. On working hours, she called for legal caps beyond the standard 40 hours, restricted to true emergencies, with mandatory rest periods, reviews of sector agreements normalising long shifts, and a phased reduction to 36 hours over the next legislative term. For remote work, she urged rules tackling psychosocial risks through regular evaluations, expert training and enforceable disconnection rights. Addressing the gender gap – highlighted alongside the government's new equality plan – she advocated compulsory pay audits for mid-sized and large companies, fines for unexplained disparities, and equality plans with clear targets. Both speakers demanded bolstered union safeguards, such as anti-retaliation protections, paid time for delegates and funding support.

Torra detailed complaints following the government's 5.4% minimum wage rise – double the 2025 IPC projection – from workers at multiple firms, including major ones. He explained that base salaries often dip below the threshold, with totals inflated by extras like overtime or reclassified items, while CASS records fail to distinguish base from variable pay. The union is probing cases and preparing Labour Inspectorate filings.

Confederació Empresarial Andorrana (CEA) director Iago Andreu acknowledged such practices might occur in isolated instances, harming the business image, though most firms comply. He stressed that law requires base pay alone to meet the minimum, excluding variables, and urged workers facing issues to alert employers, unions or inspectors, with judicial options available. Andreu noted no recent minimum wage fines but some prior overtime miscalculations, adding that larger companies with HR teams generally adhere to rules. The CEA has no direct knowledge of irregularities but encourages reporting to uphold standards.

General Syndic Carles Ensenyat backed wage improvements to aid immigrant retention and Catalan language uptake, arguing low pay discourages learning among globally recruited staff.

The government has yet to comment.