Spain is witnessing a heated debate over a new bill that could redefine the role of equality agents. The Ministry of Equality (Ministerio de Igualdad) has taken an unexpected step: now tens of thousands of Spaniards will be able to obtain official accreditation without a specialized degree in gender studies. Work experience and higher education are enough—the door to this new profession is open.
A transitional procedure outlined in the draft law allows candidates to bypass specialized education. To qualify as an equality agent, it is enough to prove three years of continuous or five years of interrupted work experience in relevant roles, along with any type of higher or professional education. The field of study does not need to be related to gender issues. This approach has sparked debate among experts and professionals, as it could create up to 40,925 new equality agents.
Who will be covered by the law
The list of candidates includes not only those already working in the equality field, but also representatives of related professions. Among them are human resources staff, occupational safety specialists, union activists, equal pay consultants, and even those involved in developing corporate anti-discrimination plans. The bill covers a broad range of professionals—many of whom have never received specialized training but have experience in related areas.
Special attention is given to those already working in companies and organizations, consulting on equality issues or developing internal protocols against harassment. Now, they have the opportunity to officially obtain their status without years of study. Even those who worked in this field sporadically, rather than on a regular basis, will be considered.
Administrative details
The accreditation procedure promises to be as simple and inexpensive as possible. Regional authorities will oversee the process, and the document fee will be just 25 euros. Five euros of this will go toward the online application, with the remaining twenty for document storage. Officials assure that the administrative burden will be minimal, but experts are already voicing concerns about potential delays and system overload.
It is still unclear how quickly tens of thousands of applications can be processed. In other fields, such as healthcare, similar large-scale accreditations have led to serious delays and even staffing crises. This time, officials promise to avoid such issues, but confidence in these assurances is low.
A profession without borders
While specialized education on gender issues is only planned to be introduced at the state level, the draft law creates a temporary ‘window of opportunity’ for everyone involved in equality matters in one way or another. In the future, as the ministry promises, there will be a special educational program, and then access to the profession will become more limited and formalized.
Until then, anyone who can prove their experience and higher education will be able to obtain the status of equality agent and perform all functions provided for by the law. This provokes mixed reactions: some believe this step will quickly address the staffing shortage, while others fear a decline in professional standards and dilution of quality.
Unexpected consequences
The professional community is already discussing the possible consequences of mass accreditation. Some see it as a chance for career growth and legitimizing their experience, while others consider it a threat to work quality and professional reputation. The question of how the new equality agents will be supervised and who will be responsible for their training remains unresolved.
Meanwhile, thousands of Spaniards are preparing to seize this unique opportunity, while officials are trying to figure out how to prevent chaos in the system. Ahead lie heated debates and perhaps new surprises for the labor market.
