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Andorra - Compensation & Benefit Legislation

CAPITAL

Andorra la Vella

 

CLIMATE

Moderate, snowy, cold winters with warm and dry summers.

 

LANGUAGES

Catalan (official), French and Castilian.

 

LEGAL SYSTEM

Andorra’s legal system is based on French and Spanish civil codes. There is no judicial review of legislative acts. Andorra has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction.

 

CURRENCY

Andorran Franc (1 US Dollar = 7.46590 ADF as of March 15, 2002).

Andorran Peseta (1 US Dollar = 186.167 ADP as of March 15, 2002).

 

ANDORRA - COST-OF-LIVING

ERI's Relocation Assessor is a recommended source for cost-of-living data.

 

ANDORRA - EMBASSY/CONSULATES

The United States does not have an embassy in Andorra. The US Ambassador to Spain is accredited to Andorra. US interests in Andorra are represented by the Consulate General's office in Barcelona, Spain.

 

U.S. CONSULATE GENERAL – BARCELONA (SPAIN)

Paseo Reina Elisenda de Montcada, 23
08034 Barcelona
Spain
Telephone: [34] (93) 280 22 27
Fax: [34] (93) 280 61 75

 

Permanent Mission of the Principality of Andorra

to the United Nations

Two, United Nations Plaza, 25th Floor

New York, N.Y. 10017

Telephone: (212) 750-8064

Fax: (212) 750-6630

 

ANDORRA - HOLIDAYS

  

ANDORRA - MINIMUM AGE

Children under the age of 18 generally are prohibited from working, although in exceptional circumstance children ages 16 and 17 may be allowed to work.

 

(Section 6.d. Acceptable Conditions of Work, Andorra – Report of Human Rights Practices, 2001, U.S. Department of State.)

 

ANDORRA - MINIMUM REMUNERATION

The minimum wage is approximately $3.65 (705 pesetas) per hour and approximately $633 (122,200 pesetas) per month.

 

(Section 6.e. Acceptable Conditions of Work, Andorra – Report of Human Rights Practices, 2001, U.S. Department of State.)

 

ANDORRA - REMUNERATION

ERI's Geographic and Salary Assessors are recommended sources for international remuneration covering 189 countries.

 

ANDORRA - REPORT OF HUMAN RIGHTS PRACTICES (2001, U.S. DEPARTMENT OF STATE)

Section 6. Worker Rights

 

a. The Right of Association

 

The Constitution recognizes the right of all persons to form and maintain managerial, professional, and trade union associations without prejudice; however, necessary implementing legislation had not been passed by year's end. In accordance with constitutional provisions, the Government maintains a registry of associations. Approximately 600 associations exist in the country and have registered with the Government. At year's end, this figure included cultural associations, workers associations, foreign associations, colleges of attorneys, and colleges of physicians. For example, the police union functions more as a professional association than as a union. No unions have emerged among workers in the private sector, and the public sector was awaiting legislation that would make it legal for the formation of a union.

 

In September a federation workers' association officially was formed that aims to regularize labor relations through dialog. At year's end, it was negotiating with the Government on the drafting of a law for the protection of workers in trade unions, and to develop social security system and labor relations.

 

Neither the Constitution nor the law state explicitly that strikes are permitted, and there were no strikes during the year.

 

b. The Right to Organize and Bargain Collectively

 

The Constitution states that both "workers and employers have the right to defend their own economic and social interests"; however, there is no law that specifically provides for collective bargaining. Parliament is charged with adopting legislation to regulate this right in order to guarantee the provision of essential services, such as the vital services of doctors, nurses, and police; however, it had not dome so by year's end.

 

Antiunion discrimination is not prohibited under the law, although there were no reports of such discrimination during the year.

 

There are no export processing zones.

 

c. Prohibition of Forced or Compulsory Labor

 

The law does not prohibit forced and bonded labor; however, such practices are not known to occur.

 

The law does not prohibit specifically forced and bonded labor by children; however, there were no reports of such practices.

 

d. Status of Child Labor Practices and Minimum Age for Employment

 

Children under the age of 18 generally are prohibited from working, although in exceptional circumstance children ages 16 and 17 may be allowed to work. The Labor Inspection Office in the Ministry of Social Welfare, Public Health, and Labor is responsible for enforcing child labor regulations.

 

The law does not specifically prohibit forced and bonded labor by children; however, such practices are not known to occur (see Section 6.c.).

 

e. Acceptable Conditions of Work

 

The workweek is limited to 40 hours, although employers may require overtime from workers. The legal maximum for overtime hours is 66 hours per month and 426 hours per year. An official minimum wage is set by government regulations, although other, higher wages are established by contract. The minimum wage is $3.65 (705 pesetas) per hour and $633 (122,200 pesetas) per month. The minimum wage does not provide a decent standard of living for a worker and family. The Labor Inspection Office enforces minimum wage observance.

 

Workers may be dismissed with 15 days' to 6 months' notice, depending on how long they have been working for the company. A minimal indemnification of 1 month's salary per year worked is paid if a worker is fired without justification. A dismissed worker receives unemployment and health benefits for only 25 days. A board composed of Andorran nationals, although they represent only a small portion of the work force, controls retirement benefits. The Labor Inspection Service hears labor complaints.

 

The Labor Inspection Service sets occupational health and safety standards and takes the necessary steps to see that they are enforced. During the year, the Labor Inspection Service filed 193 complaints against companies for violating labor regulations, and it has the authority to levy sanctions and fines against such companies. Although the law authorizes employees to refuse certain tasks if their employers do not provide the customary level of protection, no legislation grants workers the right to remove themselves from dangerous work situations without jeopardy to their continued employment.

 

Although the Constitution provides that foreign legal residents are to enjoy the same rights and freedoms as citizens, some immigrant workers believed that they did not have the same rights and security. Many immigrant workers hold only "temporary work authorizations," which are valid only as long as the job exists for which the permit was obtained. When job contracts expire, temporary workers must leave the country. The Government prohibits the issuance of work permits unless workers can demonstrate that they have a fixed address with minimally satisfactory living conditions.

 

f. Trafficking in Persons

 

The law does not prohibit specifically trafficking in persons, although the law does provide punishment for traffickers of illegal workers; however, there were no reports that persons were trafficked to, from, or within the country.

 

ANDORRA - SOCIAL SECURITY

Social Security Office of International Programs:

 

http://www.ssa.gov/SSA_Home.html

 

ANDORRA - STANDARD WORKWEEK

The workweek is limited to 40 hours, although employers may require overtime from workers. The legal maximum for overtime hours is 66 hours per month and 426 hours per year.

 

(Section 6.e. Acceptable Conditions of Work, Andorra – Report of Human Rights Practices, 2001, U.S. Department of State.)