The president of the Lanzarote Business Confederation (CEL), Beatriz Salazar, expressed this Monday her "fear" that the increase in contribution fees for the self-employed, announced by the Ministry of Social Security, will lead to "the destruction of employment and seriously affect the island's productive fabric."
Beatriz Salazar warned that this measure "aggravates the economic pressure on self-employed workers, especially in an island territory like Lanzarote, where transportation, housing, and supply costs are already higher than the national average."
"The situation that the self-employed are currently facing is extremely complicated. They are enduring an increase in tax pressure, new regulations and obligations such as electronic invoicing or the registration of working hours, which increase their administrative burden," the president said. "Added to this is social protection that is still far inferior to that of employed workers, which leaves them in a vulnerable position."
Furthermore, he added that this represents "a direct blow to the entrepreneurial middle class," so "it is necessary to simplify the rules, guarantee stability, and offer security to the self-employed, instead of continuing to add more pressure."
"The self-employed are the foundation of the economy of Lanzarote, and this increase comes at a time of economic slowdown and could have a direct impact on the continuity of many small businesses," he noted.
Beatriz Salazar recalled that "the self-employed represent a very significant percentage of the island's productive fabric, particularly in sectors such as commerce, hospitality, tourism, personal services, and cultural activities. A generalized increase will put the maintenance of employment at risk."
He recalled that the state government's proposal suggests monthly increases of between 11 and 206 euros, depending on income brackets. In the case of those who declare less than 670 euros per month, the minimum fee would increase to 217.37 euros, which represents an increase of 17 euros. For their part, self-employed workers with higher incomes could pay up to 796.24 euros per month, with an increase of 206 euros compared to current fees.
Therefore, Beatriz Salazar considered "it essential that any modification of the contribution system be progressive, so that it does not penalize those with lower incomes." She also defends "the need to establish compensation mechanisms or temporary bonuses for self-employed workers with lower incomes and to carry out an analysis of the economic impact by territories and sectors, taking into account the special insular condition of the Canary Islands."
Finally, he insisted that the self-employed "are an essential pillar of the economic and social development of Lanzarote, and that any change in the contribution system must balance the sustainability of the system with the viability of small businesses."
