Even though the Government of Spain has rectified its plan to update the fees for self-employed workers starting in 2026, and is proposing much smaller increases, between 1% and 2.5% for those who earn the most and a freeze for those who earn the least, the Spanish Federation of Self-Employed Workers (ATA) considers it insufficient and is demanding corrections and better social protection. In an interview with the radio program Buenos Días Lanzarote on Radio Lanzarote-Onda Cero, the president of ATA criticizes the Government's proposal, explains the shortcomings faced by the self-employed, and congratulates the Government of the Canary Islands for announcing that it will pay the Social Security contributions of the self-employed who are on temporary leave.
- What is the current regime and what does the new Royal Decree intend?
In 2022, an agreement was reached so that in 2023, 2024, 2025, as recommended by the Toledo Pact, the self-employed would contribute based on their fiscal income, which is already being done, and it was mandated that we review it every 3 years.
Now they intend to change it for the next three-year period, when only the regularization of 2023 has been done and without having the projections for 2024 and 2025.
* **What is ATA's point of view on this?**
We said from the outset that, given the political and economic situation, and the ordeal that the self-employed are going through, the fees had to be extended.
We also said that the fourth recommendation of the Toledo Pact to improve social protection had not been fulfilled. Surprisingly, two weeks ago they presented us with unaffordable fees and we raised our voices. Now they acknowledge the mistake and freeze the fees.
ATA's position, representing more than 60% of self-employed workers in Spain, is that we will not accept anything less than a freeze on fees for 2026, equating social protection rights.
"Self-employed women do not have the right to breastfeeding"
- What is the current unemployment protection for a self-employed worker like?
Today, self-employment benefits are a scam. Six out of ten are denied. Self-employed individuals over 52 years of age do not have the welfare service that an employee has, and self-employed women are not entitled to breastfeeding leave.
- What about the paradox of the Government trying to get the self-employed to pay more, while condemning their relatives to pay the minimum?
Indeed. It is very striking that Social Security is going to stop collecting practically 240 million euros because the relatives of self-employed workers, who were previously on a contribution base of around 1,400 euros, have surprisingly been lowered to 1,176 euros.
And this is because the family members of self-employed workers, collaborating self-employed workers, do not file income tax returns or declarations of income, because they are not obliged to do so, they are not holders.There is an additional provision in the law that says that all those who had been contributing based on a higher amount than their earnings on January 31, 2022, may maintain this base. Surprisingly, the social security system has, de facto, changed the contribution base for more than 260,000 self-employed workers. If this is not fixed, there will be no agreement."We have to congratulate the Government of the Canary Islands because it will be the first autonomous community in Spain to take an initiative like this"
- What about the self-employed who contribute to both the self-employed and general schemes?
There will also be no agreement if the situation of the self-employed in multiple occupations is not resolved, that is, those who contribute to both the self-employed and the general system. There are 300,000 in Spain, 10% of the group, and they are the only ones obliged to contribute above the maximum base.* **What happens if an agreement is not reached?**What we told the Government in September, to freeze the fees and solve the problems. We were all aware that the Government was not going to have a parliamentary majority to punish the self-employed. I don't see any political party supporting it in Congress during the election period. "The self-employed now work 47 and a half hours and an extra day a week on paperwork."
- Regarding the Canary Islands, the vice president has said that they are going to pay the social security contributions for self-employed workers on temporary leave and other issues…
We have been talking with the government of the Canary Islands about these measures, the result of dialogue and consensus with the government of the Canary Islands. We must congratulate the Government of the Canary Islands because it will be the first autonomous community in Spain to take an initiative like this. It is a pioneering initiative in Spain and we are making sure that other communities copy it.
Of every 100 salaried workers in the Canary Islands, 4.23 take sick leave each month. Of every 100 self-employed workers, only one, and decreasing.
- Did you like Feijoo's proposal?
Feijoo has said two things, one for the self-employed who invoice less than 85,000 euros, so that they can benefit from the franchised VAT, which is in a European directive. Spain is the only country in the European Union where entrepreneurs and the self-employed who invoice less than €85,000 do not have this measure, which involves making only one declaration per year.
(The directive establishes that SMEs below the turnover threshold of 85,000 euros can choose to join a special scheme in which it will not be necessary for them to file quarterly or annual VAT returns).
And the second thing Feijoo has said, for all the self-employed, is two semi-annual settlements. Do you remember that thing about having to pay VAT or IGIG without having collected the invoice? Quarters go by very quickly and you invoice and you don't have time to collect. If you do it semi-annually, you have more liquidity. These are the important things, that remove obstacles, stumbling blocks, procedures. The self-employed now work 47 and a half hours and an extra day a week on paperwork.
