Spain’s government will withdraw a controversial plan to raise all monthly contributions for self-employed workers in 2026, following backlash from across the political spectrum and freelance organisations.
Instead, the Ministry of Inclusion and Social Security will now propose freezing fees for the lowest income brackets, in what it says is an act of ‘sensitivity’ towards more vulnerable autonomos.
‘We’re working on a new proposal that includes freezing the first three tiers, those at the bottom of the contribution scale,’ said minister Elma Saiz. ‘This is about protecting those who earn the least.’
Saiz defended the overall social contribution reform introduced in 2022, where self-employed workers began paying based on actual income rather than fixed bases, arguing that the long-standing disparity between salaried and freelance pensions had become indefensible.
‘A lifelong autonomo today retires with a pension €650 lower than a salaried worker. That’s unacceptable,’ she said. ‘The only way to close that gap is through fairer contributions.’
She also reminded critics that the 2022 reform was widely supported, including by the PP and major self-employed associations ATA, UPTA, and Uatae.
‘I myself marched for this when I was self-employed during Aznar’s government. That system was approved in Congress with 260 votes in favour,’ she said.
Saiz ruled out repealing the income-based system entirely: ‘There’s no question of reversing it. This reform took years to achieve, and it’s staying.’
What was in the original proposal?
Last Monday, the ministry had proposed a gradual increase in monthly fees for the self-employed between 2026 and 2028, based on net earnings. But the backlash was swift and overwhelmingly negative.
Here’s how the now-abandoned plan looked for workers on the minimum base:
- Those earning under €670/month would have seen their monthly quota rise from €200 to €217.37 in 2026, then to €234.73 in 2027, and €252.10 in 2028.
- Those earning between €670 and €900/month would have paid €234.85 in 2026, up from the current €220, rising to €264.56 by 2028.
- For those earning up to €1,166.70, the proposal was to lift quotas from €260 to €271.24 in 2026, then up to nearly €294 by 2028.
The increases were part of a long-term strategy to adjust contribution levels under Spain’s real income-based system, aimed at better aligning future pensions with actual earnings.
Broad rejection
The proposal triggered rare cross-party consensus, with rejection from PP, Vox, Junts, Sumar, and even from groups that originally backed the 2022 reform.
Associations ATA and Uatae also pushed back, warning that the proposed rises would hit struggling workers hardest.
A new meeting is scheduled for Monday at 11.30am, bringing together the ministry, trade unions, and the main autónomo associations to hammer out a revised contribution model.
The updated proposal is expected to include no rise for low earners, though hikes may still be on the table for higher brackets.
