ATA Awards honor Canary Islands support plan for self-employed

At the 25th annual ATA Awards in Madrid, the National Federation of Associations of Self-Employed Workers (ATA) honored the Canary Islands' Support Plan for the Self-Employed with its top prize. The plan, which serves over 147,000 workers in the archipelago, was recognized for measures including zero-rate tariffs, reconciliation aid, and support during medical leaves.

During the event, ATA President Lorenzo Amor presented a critical assessment of the current economic situation for self-employed individuals in Spain. Amor stated that while the number of self-employed workers has increased, they have become poorer. He reported that 63% of the collective earns net income below the minimum wage.

Amor highlighted rising costs, noting that social security contributions for employees have increased significantly, creating a paradox where some business owners earn less than the employees they hire. Additionally, the organization estimated that administrative burdens cost businesses an average of 3,000 euros annually, totaling approximately 10.3 billion euros for the entire productive sector.