The Union of Professionals and Self-Employed Workers (UPTA) presented its document 'Autónomos 27-31' on Tuesday with 12 priority measures for the general elections on 29 November. The organisation calls on parties to take a position on each of them.
The Union of Professionals and Self-Employed Workers (UPTA) presented its proposal 'Autónomos 27-31' on Tuesday, a document with 12 priority measures aimed at the political parties running in the general elections on 29 November. The goal is to attract the vote of over three million self-employed workers in Spain, according to pressdigital.es.
The president of UPTA Spain, Eduardo Abad, has urged parties to openly position themselves on each of the initiatives so that each party can be held accountable to the collective. Abad warned that without these 12 measures, candidates should not ask for the vote of the self-employed.
"Anyone who wants to represent the self-employed must clearly state whether they support these twelve measures or not"
The leader emphasised that these twelve initiatives outline the model of self-employment necessary for the coming years: "more rights, better social protection, economically viable activities, and the capacity to face generational change and technological transformation."
Among the main reforms, UPTA demands a comprehensive restructuring of the Statute of Self-Employment (LETA) to adapt it to the current economy and digitalisation after 20 years of validity. It also calls for simpler, balanced taxation that reflects the real economic capacity and adequately recognises the expenses of the activity.
The organisation proposes to complete the implementation of the real income contribution system, improve protection for cessation of activity, and ensure that self-employed individuals over 52 years old have access to protection equivalent to that of salaried workers.
Additionally, it requests the application of reduction coefficients to allow early retirement in activities with high physical wear, arduous or dangerous conditions, and to establish a fair transition to the RETA for mutualists that respects their accumulated contributions and avoids cuts in their pensions.
UPTA advocates for a National Generational Change Plan to connect retiring workers with new entrepreneurs and prevent the loss of viable businesses. It also demands specific measures to protect economic activity in rural areas and greater support to reduce entry barriers for those under 35 years old.
The catalogue includes the integration of digitalisation and artificial intelligence to increase productivity without widening the gap with large companies, intensifying the fight against the underground economy and unfair competition, extending occupational health and safety prevention to the collective, and providing solutions for access to decent and affordable housing as a prerequisite for the professional development of young people.
The general elections will be held on 29 November. UPTA has urged parties to express their views on each of the 12 measures before that date.
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