Andorra Approves 5.4% Minimum Wage Hike to €1,525 for 2026

Andorra's Council of Ministers has approved an increase in the minimum wage to €1,525.33 per month for a 40-hour week in 2026, up 5.4% from the previous year. The hourly rate rises to €8.80. The adjustment follows an annual consumer price index (CPI) rise of 2.7%, applying a formula of double the CPI, capped at 6%, as part of a policy to restore purchasing power for vulnerable families.

Government spokesperson Guillem Casal highlighted that the minimum wage has risen 45% since 2019—from €1,050 to over €1,500—describing the progress as "more than satisfactory." Since 2023, it has increased 18%, double the CPI each year, creating a ripple effect that lifted average wages by 8% over the period, against a 10.2% CPI equivalent. Casal noted the new level reaches 58% of the average wage, nearing the 60% target in the European Social Charter. Employers may voluntarily adjust other salaries.

In other decisions, the Council advanced Andorra's accession to the United Nations Convention against Corruption, known as the Mérida Convention, adopted in New York in 2003. The move aims to strengthen anti-corruption measures, enhance institutional transparency, and deepen international judicial cooperation. Casal said it would "reinforce the national legal framework in this area." Much of Andorra's laws already align, but Penal Code reforms are needed, including criminal liability for companies and private-sector corruption offences. These will integrate into an ongoing broader Penal Code overhaul nearing completion, with the package and convention soon heading to the General Council for approval, followed by co-princes notification. The convention takes effect three months after depositing the instrument with the UN Secretary-General.

Casal separately addressed ongoing dialogue with the Holy See on abortion, describing it as "open and active" amid recent papal comments. The government seeks to decriminalise the act for women in the Penal Code—without full legalisation—balancing women's rights with Andorra's institutional model, shared by the French president and Urgell bishop. Discussions with parliamentary groups continue discreetly.

On regional cooperation, the Pyrenees Working Community (CTP) opened applications for a new director to foster ties among Andorra, Spain, and France. The role, under the Executive Committee and alongside the secretary-general, includes managing the POCTEFA programme, implementing the Pyrenean Strategy, coordinating the Pyrenean Climate Change Observatory and Development Unit, and developing policies for growth. Deadline: 28 February.

Authorities also approved regulations for legal deposits of online publications, per last year's law. Managed by the National Library with the National Archive, the rules ensure preservation and access to Andorra's digital heritage, Casal said.