Parliamentary groups Concòrdia, PS, and Andorra Endavant amend government bill to equalize parental leave at

Parliamentary groups Concòrdia, the Social Democratic Party (PS), and Andorra Endavant have filed amendments to the government's bill on equal treatment and opportunities for women and men in the workplace, aiming to equalize maternity and paternity leave at 20 weeks well before the proposed 2033 deadline.

Concòrdia submitted 12 amendments for full parity by 2028, with the second parent's leave increasing from four weeks currently to 10 in 2026, 15 in 2027, and 20 in 2028. The group proposes renaming the bill "Projecte de llei per a l’equiparació dels permisos de naixement a Andorra" to emphasize newborn care over rest, replacing all instances of "rest" with "leave." It argues that unequal family duties drive indirect discrimination against women's careers and seeks to remove company restrictions on simultaneous leave for parents at the same workplace, prioritizing such rights over internal operations. Mothers would retain six mandatory post-birth weeks from approval, with the second parent reaching six obligatory weeks by 2028.

For self-employed workers, executives, or essential roles, exceptions would allow up to 10 weekly hours or a quarter of normal hours, with employers paying for worked time and CASS covering the rest per social security rules. After mandatory periods, families could choose full suspension, reduced hours, or teleworking by mutual agreement, alongside stricter penalties for abuses. Benefits would cap at twice the economic cohesion threshold for sustainability, ensuring full pay for lower earners. Concòrdia calls for government monitoring of usage, shared parenting, gender equity, and child welfare, viewing the changes as essential for real equality regardless of economic conditions.

PS filed 15 amendments targeting 20-week parity by 2027, with 12 weeks in 2026, extending to adoptions and foster care and allowing accumulation for single-parent families. Drawing input from Associació de Dones d’Andorra, Acció Feminista, and Stop Violències, the party calls the original bill "timid and overly conservative" and supports title and terminology changes. It would limit simultaneous leave restrictions to rare cases in firms with fewer than 50 employees, same-department roles, or critical services justified by reports. PS advocates CASS-funded benefits for equity, periodic reviews using social, health, equality, and economic indicators, and fines for companies lacking equality plans. Group president Susanna Vela said equality requires "concrete actions now, not slogans." Deputy Pere Baró called the 2033 timeline "ridiculous," prioritizing social benefits over costs, and described the push as common sense rather than ideological. The party remains open to negotiation, accepting 2028 as progress over 2033 with strong enforcement, and insists CASS handle all maternity, paternity, and adoption payments.

Andorra Endavant pushes for 20-week equalization by 2027 through full implementation in the 2027 budget and better resource allocation. Leader Carine Montaner proposes cross-referencing CASS leave data with nursery enrollments to ensure parents use leave for infant care, reducing public spending, supporting child health, and avoiding early daycare. The group also suggests advance notice to employers for better planning, especially in small firms.