Throughout their marriage, Ivana took care of the children, the house and even worked for her husband… without being declared. When they divorced, the latter, who had become a millionaire, left her nothing. Justice has just forced him to compensate his ex-wife.
The sentence pronounced by the Spanish judges is one of the landmarks. For having been a housewife for twenty-five years, Ivana Moral obtained 204,624 € in compensation in court, following her divorce. The judges estimated, on February 27, that her husband owed her compensation for the domestic charge that she had assumed alone during their union. Married in 1995 under the regime of separation of property, the ex-husband who made his fortune in sports halls and the sale of sports equipment, bought in his name real estate and luxury cars and even an olive grove of 70 hectares in Andalusia whose land is worth 4 million euros.
A success to which Ivana, 48, has largely contributed. “She was his shadow, working behind him to grow professionally and become something, recalls his lawyer Me Marta Fuentes at the Spanish daily El País. She took care of their two daughters born in 2003 and 2009 without ever hiring anyone to help her.”
The Spanish Civil Code provides that domestic work gives the right to compensation
Worse, Ivana even worked, without being declared, in her husband’s fitness rooms. Little inclined to the development of the women of his household, the father of the family refused to pay for the higher education of his eldest daughter. Encouraged by her mother not to give up on her education, the young girl worked from the age of 16 to finance her school. In December 2020, at the end, Ivana filed for divorce. She then realized that apart from their main house, her husband had totally squeezed her out of his capital accumulated over the years of marriage.
A fortune estimated at more than 6 million euros. Yes, but the Spanish Civil Code provides that domestic work gives the right to compensation that the judge will set, failing agreement, upon termination of the separation regime. And that’s what happened in this case. The court imposed compensation of €204,624 on the basis of the minimum wage for 25 years. “It is a rarely used article of law, explains the plaintiff’s lawyer. It should become the norm. And it is important that the time that many women have devoted to their family and not to their professional life finally has value.”
“I encourage all women in my situation not to throw in the towel”
Since her separation, Ivana has resumed her studies to obtain an equivalent of the baccalaureate, while working as a cleaning lady. She tried to compete in the civil service. This court decision and the monthly alimony of €1,500 awarded for her and her two daughters is a real relief. A victory that Ivana wanted to share and comment on March 8 for International Women’s Rights Day.
“It’s a legal recognition of my whole trajectory. I encourage all women who are in my situation not to throw in the towel and to defend their rights.” Her ex decided to appeal the court decision. The battle continues, but Ivana knows she is no longer alone.