Andorra Gender Equality Plans: Only 60% Compliance Amid 22.5% Pay Gap

Judith Pallarés, secretary general of the Andorran Women's Institute (IAD), told the General Council's Social Affairs Commission this week that only 101 of 167 companies required to submit gender equality plans have complied, a 60.47% rate comprising 82 submissions in 2023 and 19 in 2024. No fines have been issued yet by the State Secretariat for Equality, which handles reviews and sanctions but faces resource constraints for verifying compliance and advancing enforcement.

Pallarés encouraged non-compliant firms—now around four in ten—to hasten submissions, noting they have received initial reminders of their legal duties under the 2022 rules. The IAD prioritises guidance and awareness over penalties, offering support to businesses. "We prefer a pedagogical path," she said, confident the situation will normalise soon while stressing that the secretariat must act if needed. Equality plans foster healthier workplace dynamics and coordination, she added, without requiring legislative shifts for the IAD's advisory role.

These plans aim to address Andorra's gender pay gap, put at 22.5% in the most recent official figures based on gross monthly averages—men at €2,566 and women at €1,989. Pallarés called the disparity "relevant and worrying," linking it partly to women's prevalence in part-time roles, and stressed the need for granular data to pinpoint causes. Women handle 44.5% of household tasks compared to 19.5% for men; equalising work conditions could generate €6 million in annual economic benefits, she estimated. The IAD does not access plan details directly due to competency and data protection rules, with central government registration.

The institute is adopting the European Gender Equality Index to track advances in work, money, knowledge, time, power, and health, collaborating with statistics offices to address gaps for comparable, transparent reporting.

On abortion decriminalisation, Pallarés welcomed the government's pledge in response to UN calls but noted the IAD has yet to be consulted, hoping to contribute once a bill emerges. She argued that restricting women's autonomy amounts to discrimination.

Pallarés also highlighted that 95% of cyber-harassment victims are women, tying it to youth radicalisation influenced by far-right figures.