Andorra Union Slams Labour Inspectorate for Failing Workers' Rights

The Unió Sindical d'Andorra (USdA) has sharply criticised the Labour Inspectorate for failing to protect workers' rights, accusing it of routinely dismissing complaints or delaying action for over 24 months, which renders labour protections ineffective.

In a statement covered by multiple outlets including Bon Dia, Diari d'Andorra, Altaveu, El Periòdic, and ARA, the union said the service does not effectively carry out its duty to uphold employee interests. It highlighted that workers often face Batllia court proceedings without any prior inspectorate findings, even when complaints were filed long beforehand. This leaves them isolated against their employers, lacking the administrative support they are entitled to expect.

The USdA called it "grave and incomprehensible" that the labour inspection law does not treat complainants as formal parties in proceedings. As a result, those who report violations have no automatic access to details of inspections, outcomes, or conclusions. Such information is available only through a separate Batllia claim, where they must request it explicitly. The union deemed this unacceptable and pointed to more robust safeguards in neighbouring countries.

It contrasted Andorra's system with European norms, noting the EU requirement for clear causation in dismissals. Spain, for instance, reformed its labour laws under EU pressure to ensure objective, evidenced grounds for terminations. In many EU states, parties must first file administrative claims, triggering hearings within about 30 days to resolve disputes or meet worker demands—a protective step absent in Andorra.

The union also criticised court cost risks here, which deter claims, unlike Europe where labour proceedings impose no fees on workers and each side covers its own legal costs, regardless of the outcome. Unsuccessful claimants retain their jobs and benefits.

A further imbalance arises in voluntary settlement cases for serious breaches. If employers refuse payouts, workers must go to court and risk losing their job, compensation, and more if they fail—unlike in Europe, where defeated claimants continue working without forfeiting economic rights.

The USdA warned that without an agile inspectorate, clear dismissal criteria, worker involvement in administrative processes, and courts that do not penalise claimants, labour rights amount to "wet paper." The current framework, it charged, shields administrative inertia and non-compliant businesses rather than defending employees, and demands urgent reform for genuine social justice.