The Government presents the agreement with the self-employed

Social benefits are increased, toughening sanctions for companies that hire false self-employed workers

Confirms the increase of 5.36 euros in the self-employed fee

The Ministry of Labor, Migration and Social Security is going to increase the sanctions provided for cases in which "false self-employed" are detected who should be employed by the company, since it will become a serious infraction subject to a fine that will range from 3,126 to 10,000 euros per worker.

This was confirmed today at a press conference by the Minister of Labor, Magdalena Valerio, after the ratification of the agreement with the self-employed organizations on bases and contributions, which is expected to be approved this Friday in the Council of Ministers within a decree law on Social Security, whose main measure is the revaluation of pensions for 2019.

Thus, the minimum base will rise to 944.35 euros per month in 2019, so that, with a 30% rate, the monthly payment will rise to 283.3 euros per month, 5.36 euros more than currently.

In the case of corporate self-employed workers, the minimum base will remain at 1,214 euros and the monthly fee will increase by 6.7 euros compared to the current one.

In exchange, the self-employed will have access to "a true right to unemployment", as well as coverage for professional risk, an improvement in benefits for temporary disability due to illness, progress in conciliation and in the protection of the self-employed against maternity. and the right to continuous training.

Minimum contribution base

The minister recalled that by virtue of this agreement, the minimum contribution base for the self-employed regime will, from January 1, 2019, be below that established for the general regime for employees.

To prevent, in this situation, "someone from being tempted" to transfer employees from the general regime to the self-employed regime, it has been decided to increase the penalties for this fraudulent practice, explained Valerio.

To this end, the decree law that is expected to be approved this Friday will contemplate a modification of article 22 of the Law on Infractions and Sanctions in the social order so that the figure of the "false self-employed" is considered a serious offense punishable by each of the workers detected in this situation.

The 5 keys to the agreement

• Universalization of professional contingency coverage: It will mean that all self-employed people will be covered for both illness and professional accidents without having to pay a premium for this contingency.
• The processing is simplified for cessation of activity.
• On contribution during time of temporary disability due to common illness: contributions will be paid by Social Security itself from the second month of sick leave.
• The Mutuals will favor the self-employed training: The Mutual Insurance Companies, with the support of the Government itself, will carry out training and occupational risk prevention programs.
• Self-employed with disability: As of the approval of the final text, coverage will be provided to self-employed workers with sudden disability due to an accident, illness, or any other cause.